Qandil’s Lawyers Slam Unfair Trial

According to Gamal Eid of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, defence lawyers for the prominent Egyptian journalist, Hamdy Qandil, currently being tried for allegedly defaming Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, were not allowed to make its pleas. Furthermore, the defense was not given equal time to present demands to the court.

Qandil is currently being charged over an article written in May 2010 where he harshly criticized Aboul Gheit’s comments and actions regarding the Egyptian-Israeli relationship. The defence denounced the trial and called on the court to step down over the alleged bias of the judge.

Qandil is also the spokesperson for Dr. Mohamed El-Baradei’s National Association for Change.