Cairo: 27 May 2019

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) releases, today, an updated list of the journalists and media professionals who are languishing in Egypt’s prisons, totaling 27, including Al-Jazeera journalist who is still detained despite ordering his release last Thursday, 23 May, exceeding the legal limit for pre-trial detention with 6 months.

ANHRI said, “Journalists and media workers behind bars are divided according to the circumstances and reasons behind their detention; some were sentenced to prison and handed down court rulings following trials whose fairness is being doubted. Others are held on remand pending flimsy cases and charges that would allow for the protracted pretrial detention, a widespread approach used in Egypt to punish critics and opponents including journalists and media professionals.”

ANHRI added, “We are deeply sorry to announce that Egypt has become like an encampment of prisoners of conscience; from those who have been languishing behind bars to those who are banned from traveling, or are spending their years under police surveillance after serving years in prison, not to mention the precautionary measures imposed on hundreds, if not thousands, of people. Among them are the 27 journalists, media workers and bloggers raising lots of doubts about the reasons behind their detention, in light of the lack of democracy and the rule of law in Egypt, at a time in which Mubarak regime’s figures accused of corruption and illicit gains are enjoying their freedom.

You can check the Journalists Behind Bars list through the following link:  

https://www.anhri.info/?post_type=journalist&lang=en