Al Jazeera journalists to stand trial in Egypt

Rebecca Hawkes | 12-02-2014

Egypt has set a trial date of 20 February for three Al Jazeera English journalists – Mohammed Fahmy, Baher Mohammed and Peter Greste – according to the state news agency.

Australian Peter Greste is among 18 journalists now charged by the Egyptian state with having links to a "terrorist organisation" and of spreading false news.

Prosecutors have accused the Qatari TV news network of wrongly portraying Egypt as being in a state of "civil war", and siding with the Muslim Brotherhood – which was outlawed in the North African country in December 2013.

If convicted, the journalists – who have been held since 29 December 2013 – may be imprisoned for up to seven years.

Al Jazeera has denied all charges against its staff and demanded their "unconditional release" – a cry echoed by journalists worldwide and the US Government, among many others.