The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) urged Egyptian authorities Tuesday to immediately free six detained Matsaddash journalists and warned that Egypt’s press faced widening pressure after two press-related cases.
Thameen Al-Kheetan, an OHCHR spokesperson, said authorities “must release all Matsaddash reporters.” He also called for charges arising from their legitimate journalistic work to be dropped.
Reuters reported that Egyptian police arrested the six journalists in September. Police alleged that the journalists’ work spread misinformation on behalf of the banned Muslim Brotherhood; Matsaddash rejected the allegation.
Reuters reported that an Egyptian court convicted Mada Masr’s editor-in-chief on a licensing charge in October and ordered the outlet to shut.
OHCHR described the developments as signs of widening pressure on press freedom and said journalists must be able to work without intimidation or reprisals.
