Egypt to Try 20 Al Jazeera Journalists for ‘Assisting Terrorists’

In the first charges issued since the military-run Egyptian military government declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, sixteen Egyptian journalists and four foreign journalists, all from Al Jazeera, were referred to trial on Wednesday for assisting in terror-related activities.

The four foreigners are accused of broadcasting “fake news,” while the sixteen are charged with actually joining the Muslim Brotherhood in opposition tactics.

The Egyptian government has been steadily ramping up its pressure on Al Jazeera since deposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood figure, last summer, raiding their offices and even arresting freelancers whom they think are contracted with Al Jazeera.

[h/t AP]

[Image via Al Jazeera]

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