The retial of two Al Jazeera English journalists
who face terror-related charges in a case widely
criticised by human rights organisations and
media groups has been postponed to March 8
The decision Monday comes after a brief hearing
for acting bureau chief Mohammed Fahmy and
Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed ,They
were freed earlier this month to await trial,though
they've had to check in with police each day
The two ,arrested in December 2013,face charges
accusing them of being part of a terrorist group
and airing falsified footage intended to damage
Egyptian national security .Satellite news network
Al Jazeera is based in Qatar,which was the main
backer of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group
of which toppled Islamist Mohammed Morsi
belonged,
Since Morsi ouster Egypt has been cracking down
heavily on his supporters and the journalists were
accused of being mouthpieces for the Brotherhood
Al Jazeera and the journalists have denied the
allegations, saying they were simply reporting
the news.
Another colleague arrested with them ,Australian
Peter Greste ,was deported to Australia Feb 1
under a new allowing foreigners accused of crimes
to be deported ,Famhy,a dual Egyption -Canadian
national,dropped his Egyptian citizenship after
he said Egyptian security officials told him it
was the only way he would benefit from the
new law,AP
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