Egyptian journalist who covered Sinai counterinsurgency goes on trial before military court
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The military trial of an Egyptian freelance journalist accused of spreading false information about counterinsurgency operations in the volatile Sinai Peninsula has begun behind closed doors in a Suez Canal city.
Dozens of journalists protested the detention of Ahmed Abu-Draa outside the courtroom where he is being prosecuted in Ismailiya on Sunday.
Abu-Draa was detained 11 days ago after he wrote on Facebook that air strikes ostensibly targeting militants had hit civilian areas and accused military officials of misinformation.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Egyptian military spokesman Col. Ahmed Ali told reporters Sunday that Abu-Draa's fate is now in the hands of the military court, but that spreading false information as part of an "information war" is a national security threat.