NGO workers' trial in Egypt adjourned for a week

10 April 2012, 22:41 (GMT+05:00)

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The trial of 43 Egyptian and foreign pro-democracy workers, accused of receiving illegal foreign funding and working for unlicensed organizations, was adjourned Tuesday until April 18, for judges and lawyers to consider evidence in the case, dpa reported.

Most of the foreigners accused, including 19 Americans, left Egypt last month aboard a US military plane after a travel ban on them was lifted. They are to be tried in absentia, local media said, citing legal experts.

Only one US national remained in Egypt, after he refused to leave because he was confident of his innocence in the case.

The NGOs involved include Germany's Konrad Adenauer Foundation and three US-based organizations.

In December, police and prosecutors raided the offices of 17 organizations across Egypt, detaining employees and seizing computer files.

Pro-democracy advocates said the crackdown was designed to smear civil society groups after they had exposed alleged abuses by Egypt's military-backed government.