Egypt's high state security court slated three hearings this week for the retrial of human rights activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim on charges of defaming Egypt's reputation internationally, according to court sources.
The court is scheduled to hold hearings between May 14-16 for Ibrahim, who holds dual Egyptian and United States citizenship. He is on trial with 27 others. It was not clear if witnesses would be called.
The trial opened on April 27th with Ibrahim and five co-defendants hearing the testimony from the docket. Twenty-two people also charged in the case were not present, AFP reported.
Thus far, there have been two sessions. One witness, a state security officer, has accused Ibrahim of swindling funds from foreign institutions.
The defendants are charged with tarnishing the North African country’s image by "spreading false information abroad" with regards to "supposed electoral frauds" as well as receiving, without official approval, funding from the European Union (EU) to finance the activities of the Ibn Khaldun Center.
For its part, the center claims it works to promote democracy and human rights in Egypt.
Ibrahim served eight months in jail after the state security court sentenced him to seven years in prison last May. He was freed in February when Egypt's top appeals court ordered a retrial, saying the first case had failed to examine properly the prosecution's evidence as well as the defense's arguments. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
