Egypt sends 43 NGO workers to trial for receiving foreign cash

Egyptian investigating judges yesterday referred 43 NGO workers, including 19 Americans, to trial before a criminal court for allegedly being involved in banned activities and illegally receiving foreign funds, security officials said.

The decision marked a sharp escalation in a dispute between Cairo and Washington over Egypt’s crackdown on US-funded groups promoting democracy and human rights.

The campaign against the organisations has angered Washington, and jeopardised the more than $1bn in annual aid Egypt receives from the US.