The popular network Al Jazeera served Egypt with a $150 million compensation claim on Monday, Reuters reports.
The network claims that Cairo’s military rulers have damaged its business and that Egypt has waged a campaign against the news organization and its journalists since President Morsi was overthrown last year.
“Al Jazeera invested substantial sums in Egypt. The effect of this recent campaign by the military government is that this investment has been expropriated. Egypt is bound by international law to pay Al Jazeera just and effective compensation,” said Cameron Doley, a lawyer at Carter-Ruck.
Al Jazeera’s lawyers said Cairo has six months to settle the claim, according to Reuters.
Three Al Jazeera journalists are currently being held in Egypt and tried on charges of aiding members of a terrorist organization. Human rights groups have condemned the trial, saying Egyptian authorities are restricting free speech.
