New York, February 5, 2016 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by the prolonged trial of photographer Mahmoud Abou Zeid, who has been in jail for more than 900 days. Abou Zeid, also known as Shawkan, was due in court Saturday along with more than 700 defendants who are being tried on charges ranging from rioting to attempted murder. Today, Cairo Criminal Court postponed the hearing until March 26 because a cage large enough to accommodate all the defendants was not available, according to his lawyers and state media reports.
“The Egyptian government’s treatment of Shawkan has been one outrage after the other,” said CPJ senior Middle East and North Africa Research Associate, Jason Stern. “He should never have been arrested for doing his job in the first place, he should never have been held for over two years without a trial, and now whatever justice he can get is being delayed yet again.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: This statement has been modified to reflect that Shawkan’s trial is due to take place on March 26.