Egypt puts journalists on trial for terror links

Jan 29, 2014, 11:51 AM EST

CAIRO, EGYPT - JANUARY 24 Egyptian security officers and firemen stand at the scene of a bomb attack that reportedly targeted an Egyptian police car parked by a metro station in the district of Dokki on January 24, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt.

Ed Giles/Getty Images

Egyptian prosecutors announced on Wednesday that they would be putting 20 journalists from Al Jazeera on trial on charges of allegedly joining or assisting a terrorist group and spreading false news that endangers national security. Egypt's crackdown on press freedoms has been criticized by rights organizations.

Background:

Egypt to put Al Jazeera journalists on trial-prosecutor [Reuters]

Egypt Journalists' Syndicate warns police against crackdown on members [Al Ahram]

Peter Greste: Egypt detention is 'attack on press freedom' [BBC]

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Egypt-World