Al Jazeera demands release of journalists
Correspondent and cameraman in Egypt have been detained in the weeks following the army’s removal of Mohamed Morsi.
Al Jazeera has demanded the release of two of its journalists detained in Cairo over the past month.
Abdullah al-Shami, one of the network’s correspondents in Cairo, was detained on Wednesday during the deadly crackdown on supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi.
He was transferred to Abu Zaabal prison near the Egyptian capital, and has been held without formal charges. Al Jazeera holds the Egyptian authorities responsible for his well-being.
In addition, Egypt has been holding Mohamed Badr, a cameraman for Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr, for more than a month. His detention was recently extended for another 15 days pending further investigation.
The arrests are part of what Reporters Without Borders has called “growing hostility” towards journalists in Egypt. A Turkish reporter has also been arrested, and numerous others subjected to harassment and physical violence.
“The climate for journalists became even tenser on 17 August when the State Information Service issued a statement to the foreign media condemning their coverage of recent events,” the group said in a statement.
There has also been a campaign against Al Jazeera in particular. Authorities in Egypt have said they will review the “legitimacy and legality” of Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr’s operations in the country. The channel’s offices were raided last month, and security forces seized equipment which has yet to be returned.