SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Shawkan's trial further delayed to 17 August for ‘security reasons'
Critically ill photojournalist completes 720 days behind bars
Published in Daily News Egypt on 03 - 08 - 2015

The trial of detained photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid, also known as Shawkan, has been further delayed until 17 August, according to Shawkan's solidarity social media account run by his brother Mohamed.
His trial was not brought to the courtroom for a session scheduled Monday, as the judge stated that "security reasons" were behind the Ministry of Interior's inability to bring defendants to trial.
Shawkan has been in pre-trial detention for 720 days, was after his arrest on 14 August 2013 whilst covering the bloody dispersal of the pro-Muslim Brotherhood sit-in in Rabaa Al-Adaweya.
The new postponement means a renewal of Shawkan's detention, in one of the longest periods of a journalists' imprisonment. In the past week, most sessions of political trials have been adjourned to dates after the inauguration of the New Suez Canal Project scheduled for 6 August.
On Sunday, several cases were postponed for the same "security reasons", including the Al Jazeera trial case, the second delay of an expected verdict to be issued in the journalists' case.
The session was expected to be held in the Police Academy in the Fifth Settlement area of Cairo, after the trial sessions were suddenly moved from the Tora Police Institute.
However, such delays have been repeated in Shawkan's case, who has never been tried since his arrest. This comes despite facing serious charges related to belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood, and taking part in their post-30 June violence.
According to his lawyer Karim Abdul Rady, there are 12 "made up charges" for Shawkan and over 300 others that include: attempted murder; possession of weapons and ammunition; threatening public peace; disrupting the constitution; and sabotaging public and private property.
Shawkan suffers from hepatitis-C, and in his latest letter from prison, he said: "Despair penetrated my red blood cells and kidney, my brain rejects sleeping and my body sweats continuously."
Local and global campaigns to support the photojournalist have been focusing on presenting his work, previously published by Time Magazine, Die Zeit, Media Group, and online photo agency Demotix.
Ahead of his visit to Cairo on Sunday, US Secretary of State John Kerry was addressed by Human Rights Watch (HRW), which mentioned Shawkan's case as part of their call for Kerry to make "political reform, human rights and fundamental freedoms a central part" of the US-Egypt agenda.
His family intends to hold a press conference soon, in which the content of a new letter sent by Shawkan is set to be revealed.
In his previous letter, Shawkan wrote: "My weak body, full of disease, became helpless to continue bearing hard imprisonment for two years, without any guilt except bearing my camera to shoot events with neutrality and objectivity."


Clic here to read the story from its source.