U.S.'s Kerry harshly critical of verdict in Egypt NGO case

   
An Egyptian court's decision to give jail terms to 43 Americans, Europeans, Egyptians and other Arabs in a case against democracy-promotion groups runs counter to its transition to democracy, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday.
   
"The United States is deeply concerned by the guilty verdicts and sentences, including the suspended sentences, handed down by an Egyptian court today against 43 NGO representatives in what was a politically-motivated trial," Kerry said a written statement.

"This decision runs contrary to the universal principle of freedom of association and is incompatible with the transition to democracy."

Earlier, an Egyptian court sentenced at least 15 U.S. citizens in absentia to five years in jail and one American who stood trial was jailed for two years in a case against foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
   
Judge Makram Awad also ordered the closure of the NGOs, including the U.S.-based International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute.
   
He gave five-year suspended sentences to 11 other defendants identified by the charge sheet as nationals of Norway, Serbia, Germany and Arab states.

At least 11 Egyptians were given one-year suspended sentences.
 
 
REUTERS