Cairo extends detention of Al Jazeera staff
Network continues to call for release of journalists accused of spreading false news and belonging to “terrorist group”.
A Cairo criminal court has extended the detention of a journalist working for Al Jazeera Arabic, while postponing the trial of three others from its English-language sister channel.
This week, the court extended Abdullah al-Shami’s detention for a further 45 days. Al-Shami has already been held for more than six months and has been on a hunger strike since January 23.
Meanwhile, the trial of three Al Jazeera English journalists in Egypt has been adjourned until March 24. The defendants remain in jail on charges of spreading false news and belonging to a “terrorist group”.
Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, who have been held for more than two months, appeared in court for the second time last week when witnesses for the prosecution were heard.
Al Jazeera rejects the charges against its staff and continues to call for their release.