Egypt's press syndicate is seeking information on the circumstances and place of detention of journalist Badr Mohamed Badr, who was arrested last month and is currently in police custody, Ibrahim Abu Keila, the head of the syndicate's freedoms committee, told Ahram Online on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Egypt's High State Security Prosecution ordered Badr detained for 15 days pending investigation over accusations of "joining an organisation founded in violation of the constitution and to undermine state institutions."

According to several media reports, Badr has been added to the list of defendants in the Muslim Brotherhood-related case known in media as the "Khairat El-Shater cell case," which has been referred to a military court.

The seven defendants in the case are facing charges including inciting violence and illegal protesting.

The case dates back to February 2017, when authorities arrested Mohamed Abdel-Rahman, the head of the banned Muslim Brotherhood's administrative committee and other members of the organisation during a meeting in Cairo.

Badr's family reported his disappearance on social media on 29 March.

Press syndicate freedoms committee head Abu Keila said "we have contacted authorities and written to the prosecutor-general to inquire about Badr's place of detention and supply him with medication, since he suffers some liver complications."

He also said that he has been contacted by Badr's daughter to communicate with authorities regarding her father's case.

Badr was editor-in-chief of Lewaa El-Islam magazine in 1988, and in 2000 was a managing editor at Afak Arabia newspaper. He later worked as a reporter for the Qatari-based Al-Jazeera news channel.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/262407.aspx