Egypt: journalist Hisham Abdelaziz released
The Al Jazeera producer has been freed following almost four years in pre-trial detention.
The National Union of Journalists joins the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in welcoming the release of Hisham Abdelaziz on 1 May. Abdelaziz was arrested in June 2019 while travelling from Qatar to visit family in Cairo. He was charged with “spreading false information” and “membership of a terrorist group” and detained for several years.
Since president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi came into power in 2014, several reporters working for Al Jazeera including those critical of government have been targeted by Egyptian authorities. Egyptian journalists Bahaa Eldin Ibrahim and Rabie el-Sheikh were both detained in August 2021 and remain behind bars.
The NUJ is echoing calls by the IFJ for Egyptian authorities to release all journalists wrongly imprisoned in the country.
Anthony Bellanger, IFJ general secretary said:
“At least 17 journalists and media workers remain behind bars in Egypt for carrying out their professional duties. On World Press Freedom Day, we urge the Egyptian authorities to release all imprisoned journalists, whose detention undermines the right to press freedom and freedom of expression, and calls into question its attitude towards human rights."