Human rights dominates press coverage as Patrick Zaki’s trial begins

Human rights dominates the conversation on Egypt in the international press this morning: Reuters and the BBC are reporting on the opening of the trial of Patrick Zaki, an Egyptian student and human rights activist who has been held in pre-trial detention since February last year on charges of “fake news.” Zaki pleaded not guilty and asked to be released during a hearing earlier this month. The judge yesterday adjourned the case until 7 December to allow the defence to review case files. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch is urging the UN Human Rights Council to secure UN monitoring and reporting of the Egyptian government's “pervasive abuses.”