CAIRO- The trial of three Al Jazeera English journalists in Egypt has been adjourned until March 5 after they appeared in court in Cairo, on Thursday, Feb. 20, and pleaded not guilty to all charges against them.

Mohamed Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohammed are accused of joining, or aiding and abetting a terrorist organization. 

After opening the trial, the Cairo court said it would hear prosecution witnesses and consider the evidence at the next hearing.

Al Jazeera continues to reject the charges and is demanding the immediate release of its staff.

Since their arrest, journalists have staged protests worldwide demanding their release, and rejecting claims the three have links to the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s former ruling party which has since been designated a “terrorist” group.

The case is one of many that have led to criticism of Egypt’s military-backed government, with rights groups pointing to growing intolerance for dissent in the Arab world’s most populous country.