Egypt's Journalists' Syndicate in Cairo's Downtown, Egypt (Photo: Mohamed Nada)
Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate on Thursday filed a complaint with the prosecutor- general over what they called the “illegal procedures" taken in the arrest of a journalist.
Ibrahim Aref, editor-in-chief of online news site Al-Bayan, was arrested on Monday over “publishing false news”, then released late on Tuesday on a bail of LE10,000 (approximately $1,300).
In a statement, the syndicate said that releasing journalists on bail is against the law, asserting that it is “illegal” to put journalists under preventative detention in publishing cases.
It also said that the prosecutor should notify the syndicate when it arrests one of its members, which it claimed did not happen in Aref's case.
Aref was arrested over “publishing false news that might disrupt general security, terrorise people, and harm the public interest.”
Al-Bayan on Monday published an article claiming that six prosecutors were assassinated while travelling on the Cairo-Suez highway.
In an earlier statement on Monday, the syndicate said that rule of law should be implemented, even when confronting “exceptional circumstances”.
Several Egyptian media outlets have been facing state pressure over recent news reports.
Last week, privately owned daily newspaper Al-Watan was reportedly forced to stop printing and adjust its content before reprinting.
Last month, the interior ministry filed cases against papers such as El-Dostour and Al-Masry Al-Youm, and even arrested a reporter, over features on police brutality.
Short link: