Egyptian trial of 43 activists adjourned
Source: Agencies |
February 27, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
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AN Egyptian court yesterday adjourned the trial of dozens of democracy activists including 16 Americans to April 26, raising hopes among their supporters that the case could be dropped to spare further damage to Egypt's ties with its ally Washington.
Forty-three foreign and Egyptian non-profit workers - including the son of the US transportation secretary - are accused of receiving illegal funds from abroad, carrying out political activities unrelated to their civil society work and failing to obtain the necessary operating licences.
The groups say they have long sought to register in Egypt.
The case has underscored tension between the US and the generals who took power in Egypt when President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown. Washington officials have said annual military aid to Egypt, worth US$1.3 billion, is under threat.
But they want to avoid burning bridges with Egypt's rulers, who have upheld a peace treaty with staunch US ally Israel and are promising to hand power to civilians this year.
A senior US official said on Saturday that Washington and Cairo were holding what he described as "intense discussions" to resolve the crisis within days and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington was evaluating developments.
Prosecution lawyer Khaled Suleiman told the court: "These organizations are accused of espionage and going against the law. Most of them are in contact with the CIA. These organizations gathered information and reports on Egypt and sent them to the US State Department."
Forty-three foreign and Egyptian non-profit workers - including the son of the US transportation secretary - are accused of receiving illegal funds from abroad, carrying out political activities unrelated to their civil society work and failing to obtain the necessary operating licences.
The groups say they have long sought to register in Egypt.
The case has underscored tension between the US and the generals who took power in Egypt when President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown. Washington officials have said annual military aid to Egypt, worth US$1.3 billion, is under threat.
But they want to avoid burning bridges with Egypt's rulers, who have upheld a peace treaty with staunch US ally Israel and are promising to hand power to civilians this year.
A senior US official said on Saturday that Washington and Cairo were holding what he described as "intense discussions" to resolve the crisis within days and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington was evaluating developments.
Prosecution lawyer Khaled Suleiman told the court: "These organizations are accused of espionage and going against the law. Most of them are in contact with the CIA. These organizations gathered information and reports on Egypt and sent them to the US State Department."
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