Egyptian defendant Yahya Ghanem (R), one of the fourteen Egyptian activists who were accused of working for unlicensed non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and receiving illegal foreign funds, stands in a cage during the opening of their trial in Cairo (photo: Reuters)
The only US NGO worker to remain in Egypt after the travel ban on indicted foreigners was lifted appeared in court on Thursday.
Robert Becker – a political party trainer at the National Democratic Institute – is one of 16 foreign NGO workers charged with illegally receiving foreign funds and working in the country without a licence.
His attorney Tharwat Abdel Shaheed stated, "Becker refused to travel with his colleagues because he trusts the Egyptian judicial system and believes the allegations against him will be proved false."
The court has postponed the trial of NGO workers until 10 April. In addition, the prosecutor-general has ordered the return of 13 indicted foreign NGO workers who left the country after a travel ban was lifted on 29 February.
Thirteen foreigners left Egypt on 1 March after the travel ban imposed on them was lifted the day before.
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