Retrial of Al Jazeera journalists adjourned to 29 June

Ahram Online , Thursday 25 Jun 2015

Al-Jazeera English journalist Mohammed Fahmy
A policeman accompanies Canadian Al-Jazeera English journalist Mohammed Fahmy, during his retrial in a courtroom, in Tora prison, in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, June 25, 2015 (Photo: AP)

Cairo Criminal Court on Thursday adjourned the trial of two Al Jazeera journalists to 29 June. 

The prosecution accused the journalists, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, of joining a terrorist group, the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, and "spreading false news harmful to national security." 

Both Fahmy and Mohamed were released on bail in February after two years in prison. A third Al Jazeera journalist charged in the case, Peter Greste, was deported to his country Australia in February. 

They were initially arrested in December 2013 and sentenced to six to ten years in jail. 

Six defendants, other than the three Al Jazeera journalists, were charged in this case. 

The judge also ordered the prosecution to bring one of the defendants, Sohaib Saad, to court. He is currently being detained at Tora Prison Complex, according to his lawyer, pending an investigation by the military prosecution into a new case related to national security.  

Saad and two of his friends, including photographer Esraa Mahfouz, were reported missing by their family and friends more 18 days ago.

A week ago it was announced that Sohaib Saad and Omar Ahmed had been found at Tora prison, while Esraa Mahfouz was found at Qanatar women’s prison.

Sohaib Saad is among four students accused of spreading false news and aiding the Brotherhood in the Al Jazeera journalists’ case. 

 

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