Canadian journalist held in Cairo faces charges that include joining terror group

The family of an Egyptian-Canadian journalist imprisoned in Cairo says he will be heading to trial on charges that include allegedly joining a terrorist group.

Mohamed Fahmy’s family says the 40-year-old has officially been charged today with allegedly using illegal equipment, broadcasting false news and being a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt’s military-led government has branded a terrorist organization.

Fahmy’s brother says his family is shocked as the charges were laid with no warning and went against assurances from the local prosecutor that the man was not suspected of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Fahmy and his two colleagues were working for satellite news broadcaster Al Jazeera English when they were arrested on Dec. 29.

Egyptian authorities have depicted the Qatar-based broadcaster as being biased towards former Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Al Jazeera has denied the bias and has demanded the release of its reporters, who it says were only doing their jobs.