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Egyptian Court Tells Journalists to Pay for Video Said to Show Their Guilt Egyptian Court Tells Journalists to Pay for Video Said to Show Their Guilt
(about 3 hours later)
CAIRO — An Egyptian court said Thursday that three jailed journalists must pay $170,000 for a copy of the video footage that prosecutors say shows the defendants’ fabricated news reports to foment unrest. CAIRO — An Egyptian court said Thursday that three jailed journalists must pay $170,000 for a copy of the video footage that prosecutors say shows the defendants fabricated news reports to foment unrest.
The exorbitant price charged for access to the evidence is the latest in a string of irregularities in the case. The three journalists have been jailed since December on charges that they formed an Islamist cell and conspired with the Muslim Brotherhood to broadcast false images of civil strife in Egypt. All three journalists worked for the English language arm of the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel, which Egypt’s new military-backed government considers biased in favor of its Islamist opposition. The price charged for access to the evidence is the latest in a string of irregularities in the case. The three journalists have been jailed since December on charges that they formed an Islamist cell and conspired with the Muslim Brotherhood to broadcast false images of civil strife in Egypt. All three journalists worked for the English-language arm of the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel, which Egypt’s new military-backed government considers biased in favor of its Islamist opposition.
Prosecutors have not yet publicly disclosed any of the allegedly false news reports. Nor have the prosecutors shown any evidence that reports were fabricated. Images of unrest on Egyptian streets and campuses were easier to find than to fabricate in the weeks before the journalists’ arrests. Prosecutors have not yet publicly disclosed any of the allegedly false news reports. Nor have they shown any evidence that reports were fabricated. Images of unrest on Egyptian streets and campuses were easier to find than to fabricate in the weeks before the journalists’ arrests.
The prosecution has also made no attempt to link the defendants to the Muslim Brotherhood. The defendant who prosecutors say is the ringleader of the Islamist cell is Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, a dual citizen of Egypt and Canada who had previously worked as a producer for CNN and as a reporting assistant for The New York Times. He drinks alcohol, calls himself “a liberal,” and last June he marched in a demonstration against then President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood. The prosecution has also made no attempt to link the defendants to the Muslim Brotherhood. The defendant who prosecutors say is the ringleader of the Islamist cell is Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, a dual citizen of Egypt and Canada who previously worked as a producer for CNN and as a reporting assistant for The New York Times. He drinks alcohol and calls himself “a liberal,” and last June he marched in a demonstration against Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was president at the time.
Another defendant, Peter Greste, is an Australian citizen who previously worked for the BBC. Mr. Greste is not a Muslim, and he had spent only a few days in Egypt before his arrest. He said in court that his passport shows he had never spent time in any country where the Muslim Brotherhood is active. Another defendant, Peter Greste, is an Australian who previously worked for the BBC. Mr. Greste is not a Muslim, and he had spent only a few days in Egypt before his arrest. He said in court that his passport shows he had never spent time in any country where the Muslim Brotherhood is active.
The third journalist charged is Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian with a long record of work for other international news organizations.The third journalist charged is Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian with a long record of work for other international news organizations.
Another journalist, Abdullah Elshamy of Al Jazeera’s main Arabic language channel, has been held since August without charges. This week he smuggled out of prison a short video message. Looking gaunt and sickly, he says in the video that he has been on a hunger strike for more than 100 days to protest his imprisonment.Another journalist, Abdullah Elshamy of Al Jazeera’s main Arabic language channel, has been held since August without charges. This week he smuggled out of prison a short video message. Looking gaunt and sickly, he says in the video that he has been on a hunger strike for more than 100 days to protest his imprisonment.
Prosecutors maintain that the evidence against the three defendants is contained on five CDs of videos and images that were taken from their computers, and defense lawyers say they have not seen any of it. The defense lawyers said Thursday that the prosecutors began asking about a week ago for $170,000 for copies of the evidence.Prosecutors maintain that the evidence against the three defendants is contained on five CDs of videos and images that were taken from their computers, and defense lawyers say they have not seen any of it. The defense lawyers said Thursday that the prosecutors began asking about a week ago for $170,000 for copies of the evidence.
Addressing the issue in court, defense lawyers complained that they could not represent their clients without a chance to review the evidence, and Khaled Abu Bakr, a lawyer for Mr. Fahmy, called the $170,000 fee “unreasonable.” Mr., Fahmy, shouting from the metal cage used to hold defendants in Egyptian courtrooms, called the sum “preposterous.” Addressing the issue in court, defense lawyers complained that they could not represent their clients without a chance to review the evidence, and Khaled Abu Bakr, a lawyer for Mr. Fahmy, called the $170,000 fee “unreasonable.” Mr. Fahmy, shouting from the metal cage used to hold defendants in Egyptian courtrooms, called the sum “preposterous.”
But Judge Mohammed Nagi Shehata nonetheless told the defense to pay up. “It’s you who didn’t perform your duty,” he said, speaking from behind dark sunglasses, a hallmark of his presence on the bench. “The prosecution’s deputy told you it would cost this much, and you said, ‘I’m not going to pay,’.” But Judge Mohammed Nagi Shehata nonetheless told the defense to pay up. “It’s you who didn’t perform your duty,” he said, speaking from behind dark sunglasses, a hallmark of his presence on the bench. “The prosecution’s deputy told you it would cost this much, and you said, ‘I’m not going to pay.’ ”
“Either you adhere by the fees or else,” he said.“Either you adhere by the fees or else,” he said.