Egyptian authorities postpone the trial of photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid

The Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed deep concern over the prolonged trial of detained Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid.

“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 also added that Abou Zeid should have never been arrested for doing his job.

Also known as ‘Shawkan’, Abou Zeid has been in jail for more than 900 days despite the country’s penal code stating the maximum period a person can be held in remand is two years.

Zeid was due for court on Saturday but the Cairo Criminal Court decided to adjourn his the hearing until April. The court said there was no cage large enough to accommodate all the defendants that was available.

Abou Zeid has been detained alongside over 700 defendants. They are being tried on charges ranging from rioting to attempted murder.