Trial of Americans and NGO Workers Begins in Cairo

The controversial trial of 43 pro-democracy non-profit workers began on Sunday in Cairo. Among the defendants are 19 Americans and 16 Egyptians as well as Serbs, Lebanese, Germans, a Norwegian, a Jordanian and a Palestinian. Seven of the Americans remain in Egypt as Egyptian authorities have not allowed them to leave; among them is Sam LaHood, the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The Americans all work for four groups,the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, the International Center for Journalists and Freedom House. All have denied wrongdoing and, according to Al Jazeera, none of the Americans appeared in court. Les Campbell, regional director for one of the accused US organizations, says that his group’s foreign employees had not received official summons from the court and so had not been present.

All the non-profit workers have been charged with illegally using foreign funds to incite unrest and operating without a license; they could face five-year prison terms. Egyptian authorities are basing the charges on information gleaned from computers, files and other documents seized from the non-profits’ offices in a raid in December, as well as the accusations of 13 individuals. Chief among the accusers is Fayza Abul Naga, the minister of planning and international cooperation, and a holdover from the Mubarak era.

Egypt’s interim military government, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), has repeatedly blamed foreigners for the unrest that has unsettled the country in the year since Hosni Mubarak was ousted after thirty years as the country’s president. Rights activists counter that the trials are an “orchestrated effort by Egyptian authorities to silence groups critical of the military rulers,” notes Al Jazeera. The recent arrests of foreign journalists and the continued arrest of Egyptian bloggers and activists more than raises questions about how much Egypt has really changed after Mubarak’s fall.

U.S. officials have been working fervently to resolve the legal cases “in the coming days.” U.S. Secretary of State HIllary Clinton has raised the issue twice with with her Egyptian counterpart, Mohamed Amr, and Martin Dempsey, the joint chiefs chairman, and Republican Senator John McCain are in Cairo to seek to resolve the situation. The U.S. has said that it may cut of $1.3 billion in military aid it has been giving to Egypt.
But Egypt has continued to insist that the U.S. is meddling in its affairs and said that, if the U.S. cuts of the funds, Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel is in danger.

One of the prosecutors have called on the judges to consider an exchange for Egyptian cleric, Omar Abdel Rahman, who has been given a life sentence in the US for threatening to blow up landmarks and tunnels in New York, says the BBC.

The trial will resume on April 26.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Ellen M.

9:14PM PST on Feb 27, 2012

The fact that the present government is full of Mubarack hold overs should be proof enough a fair trial is not in the cards for anyone.
And while i pray for the safety of all those charged, we cannot be blackmailed by these animals, as there will always be a "next time".
And what really infuriates me is that they are holding relations with Israel over our heads as well.
And while there are far to many for that alone to be cause enough to capitulate, i say it is another reason for the US to show the world that we are not joined at the hip with Israel, and
start to form a relationship with them that does not make us look their very own Super PAC and protector, while garnering ever more hostility from the rest of the world over it.

send a green star

Darren T.

8:33PM PST on Feb 27, 2012

This takes the focus away from the Egyptian people. they need a fair trial too.

Joan M.

7:57PM PST on Feb 27, 2012

As much as I feel for these NGO workers and their families, all of them knew the risk when they went to Egypt, they knew the political situation, I am not really sure what the aim of this organization is, believe when I say I do hope they get a fair trail if it goes that far.

Chad A.

7:04PM PST on Feb 27, 2012

I want these folks to get a fair trial, but the many Egyptians suffering frrom an unfair legal process deserve fair treatment, too, not to mention all political prisoners in every nation in the Middle East.

Heather M.

5:52PM PST on Feb 27, 2012

Egypt give them a Fair Trial.

Winn A.

2:38PM PST on Feb 27, 2012

tks

Marilyn L.

12:30PM PST on Feb 27, 2012

Cut off the funds, this is pure blackmail by the Egyptians. Israel has pushed back Egypt even when they had other Arabs fighting with them( anyone remember th 6 day War and others); it can take care of itself.. Don't give into the threats of the Egyptians; $1.3 billion can go to our schools and infrastructure or pay down our debt. The military Egyptians want to talk tough let's see how tough they are without us.

Alexandra R.

12:15PM PST on Feb 27, 2012

I quote from this article: "The recent arrests of foreign journalists and the continued arrest of Egyptian bloggers and activists more than raises questions about how much Egypt has really changed after Mubarak’s fall. ..

Rights activists counter that the trials are an “orchestrated effort by Egyptian authorities to silence groups critical of the military rulers,” notes Al Jazeera."

Jillian : "It's not just in Egypt that NGOs are in trouble. ... They are no doubt well meaning but there interference in many cases cause more problems than they solve."

So you're suggesting that ALL foreign independent journalists and bloggers should stop reporting on Egypt as that’s “interference”, and ONLY Egyptian approved journalists and bloggers should report on the 'progress' in Egypt?

For me, I want these journalists and bloggers OUT of M.E. for their own safety’s sake! And for US to STOP sending money to these MB bullies!

11:12AM PST on Feb 27, 2012

Gotta pay to play.

Jillian E.

10:55AM PST on Feb 27, 2012

It's not just in Egypt that NGOs are in trouble. In Africa and particularly in Haiti NGOs have been causing problems for established Aid and Charity Organisations and they are what their name suggests, NGO Non-Governmental-Organisations. They are no doubt well meaning but there interference in many cases cause more problems than they solve.