US ‘deeply concerned’ as Egypt activists said to face trial

SHANNON, Ireland, February 5, 2012 (AFP)

 The United States said Sunday it was”deeply concerned” at the news that dozens of activists including 19 Americans could go on trial in Egypt over the alleged illegal funding of aid groups.

  “We have seen media reports that judicial officials in Egypt intend toforward a number of cases involving US-funded NGOs to the Cairo criminalcourt,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

  “We are deeply concerned by these reports and are seeking clarificationfrom the government of Egypt,” Nuland told reporters traveling with Secretaryof State Hillary Clinton.

  In Cairo, a judicial source told AFP that 44 people would face trial, oneday after Washington said it would review aid to Cairo if it pursued itsmonths-long crackdown on non-governmental organisations.

  The offices of several local and international NGOs including Freedom Houseand the International Republican Institute were raided in December by Egyptian authorities as part of a probe into alleged illegal funding.

  Then last month, Egypt barred some US members of the NGOs from leaving thecountry and American officials said “a handful” subsequently took refuge inside the US embassy, fearing arrest.

  “The Egyptian military’s handling of this issue has been a disaster,” said Charles Dunne, director for Middle East and North Africa programs for Freedom House.

  “This represents another escalation by the Egyptian government in its waron civil society — and it’s not just the US organisations, it’s the Egyptian organisations,” he told AFP.