Politics · Other · 2 hrs ago
Egypt journalists' union chief defends detained Matsadaash reporters
Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate chief, Khaled Elbalshy, says the union will continue to defend press freedom.
The dispute involves six journalists from Matsadaash, an investigative news platform in Egypt.
They were arrested on September 28 and 29 and accused by prosecutors of working for a media organisation linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt has designated a terrorist group.
The journalists’ lawyers say most of the six reported being beaten and given electric shocks in detention, and that some were forced to record false confessions.
Egypt’s Interior Ministry denies the torture allegations, while Matsadaash’s co-founder denies any link to the Muslim Brotherhood.
The syndicate has complained to the public prosecutor, and the journalists have been ordered held in pretrial detention for 15 days while investigations continue.
The case matters because it raises concerns about the treatment of journalists and the space for independent reporting in Egypt.
Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate chief Khaled Elbalshy said the union would continue defending press freedom after criticism over its support for six detained Matsadaash journalists.
The six journalists were arrested on September 28 and 29 and charged with joining a “terrorist” group.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights said most of the journalists reported being tortured in detention, including beatings and electric shocks.
Egyptian authorities denied the torture allegations.
Prosecutors accused the journalists of working for a media organisation tied to the Muslim Brotherhood, while Matsadaash co-founder Abdelrahman Mansour rejected any such links.
- Who
- Khaled Elbalshy, head of Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate, defended six detained journalists from Matsadaash.
- What
- The union said it would continue to fight for press freedom after criticism over its support for the journalists, who face charges including joining a “terrorist” group.
- When
- The journalists were arrested on September 28 and 29. Elbalshy made his statement on Sunday.
- Where
- Egypt.
- Why
- The union is responding to the detention and charges against the journalists, as well as allegations that they were tortured. Authorities deny the torture allegations.
Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate and Matsadaash
Egyptian authorities and pro-government commentators
The union’s response
Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate and Matsadaash
The union said it would continue to defend press freedom and that an infringement of one journalist’s freedom affects everyone.
Egyptian authorities and pro-government commentators
Pro-government commentators criticised the union for defending the detained journalists.
Torture allegations
Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate and Matsadaash
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights said most of the journalists reported torture, including beatings and electric shocks.
Egyptian authorities and pro-government commentators
Egyptian authorities denied the allegations.
Alleged Muslim Brotherhood links
Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate and Matsadaash
Matsadaash co-founder Abdelrahman Mansour rejected any links between the platform and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Egyptian authorities and pro-government commentators
Prosecutors accused the journalists of working for a media organisation tied to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Matsadaash was founded as a fact-checking platform.
Matsadaash journalist Karim Asaad was arrested after the platform published an investigation into suspected smuggling.
Six Matsadaash journalists were arrested.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights said prosecutors should have identified the imminent threat justifying the delay in bringing the journalists before a judicial authority.
Khaled Elbalshy said the syndicate would continue to fight for press freedom.
- Journalists arrested
- Mohamed Adel, Mohamed Ashraf Abu Emeira, Islam Barakat, Omar Helal, Mohamed Mahmoud and Abdallah Qadry
- Arrest dates
- September 28 and 29
- Pretrial detention
- 15 days pending investigations
- Matsadaash founded
- 2018
- Matsadaash Facebook following
- More than 1.3 million
What people are saying
What happens to one colleague affects us all, and may happen to others tomorrow
An infringement of one journalist’s freedom is an infringement of everyone’s freedom and a weakening of the safeguards protecting that freedom.
The fundamental principle governing all such matters, particularly when dealing with accused persons in general and vulnerable people in particular, remains that an accused person is innocent until proven guilty.
The public prosecution should have identified the imminent terrorist threat that required denying them their right to appear before a judicial authority within 24 hours of their arrest,
Sources
Related news
Protests in Azerbaijan over school hijab rules; 37 people detained
Lagos court rejects hospital bid to stop inquest into toddler’s death
Enugu NDC rejects government claim about airport gathering
Poland detains man over alleged plot against Tusk and defense minister
Pakistan declares emergency in province governed by Imran Khan's party
Hitler Mussolini Simeon Flores elected mayor in Peru
Abbas postpones Palestinian elections until September 2027
Thailand plans early-retirement program to reduce public workforce
Nigeria says it will expand technology and intelligence to tackle insecurity
Pakistan detains 278 members of Imran Khan’s party under emergency rule
Ukraine parliament backs bill to speed up state asset sales
