Egyptian journalist faces secret trial over 'China, Iran spy' charges

An Egyptian journalist forcibly disappeared more than three years ago has been put on trial at a Cairo court on charges of espionage, according to local media reports.

Mahmoud Diab, a journalist with state-run Al-Ahram, is accused of reportedly spying for the Chinese and Iranian governments, and if convicted, could potentially face the death penalty.

Eight foreigners of different nationalities are also standing trial, who the authorities allege worked for Iranian and Chinese intelligence agencies.

The trial will reportedly be held on 25 October in secret at a court in the notorious Badr prison complex.

The 43-year-old journalist has been held in pre-trial detention since disappearing from Cairo Airport in September 2022.

Authorities have accused him of committing acts "harmful to Egypt's political, diplomatic and economic status" by spying for Chinese and Iranian entities between 2014 and 2022.

They allege that he received almost 14,000 euros ($16,500) for supplying sensitive political and security information to Iranian intelligence.

They also claim he received 93,000 yuan ($2,000) for providing information to Chinese intelligence and built links with Chinese research institutions with alleged links to Beijing intelligence.

The Chinese embassy in Cairo did not respond to a request for comment.

Since his arrest, he has been detained in Wadi Natrun prison, where his family say he has been held in poor conditions and denied healthcare.

Diab, a diabetic, developed a skin disease and underwent surgery on his hand for nerve damage as a result of mistreatment, according to family members, who appealed to the prosecutor-general last year to allow him access to specialist medical attention.

The Journalists' Syndicate has appealed to the Public Prosecution for information regarding his treatment.

Diab disappeared on 6 September shortly before he was scheduled to fly to China. According to his family, his phone was turned off soon after he arrived at the airport, but he received a message the following day saying he had arrived in China.

More than a week after his disappearance, his family received a call from Chinese television to ask why he had not travelled to the country. EgyptAir subsequently confirmed he had not travelled on the flight.

His whereabouts were kept secret for almost three months, when he was named as a defendant in the espionage case.

Egypt is ranked among the worst countries in the world for press freedoms and frequently prosecutes journalists on charges of spreading disinformation and supporting terror organisations.

Seventeen journalists are currently imprisoned in Egypt, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.