London – December 8, 2017
Arab Media Freedom Monitor “Ikshef” is demanding the disclosure of the fate of five journalists who were kidnapped in front of Egyptian Journalists Syndicate last Thursday following their participation in a peaceful demonstration denouncing US President Donald Trump’s decision to transfer his country’s embassy to Jerusalem, a demonstration called for by EJS board members.
The five journalists were Ahmed Abdul-Aziz and Hossam Al-Suweifi (EJS members), Hesham Ahmed, Mohammed Khaled and Islam Ashri. They were taking part in a gathering on EJS ladders to denounce the decision to transfer the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Ikshef considers the abduction of journalists from EJS ladders as a new sign of continuing to insult this veteran professional entity. It represents a new attack on the syndicate which the Egyptian security forces had stormed in early May last year and arrested journalists from inside it and then referred its head, his deputy and secretary general to trial, and later, they were sentenced to suspended imprisonment.
It is worth mentioning that a group of journalists tried to find out the whereabouts of the abducted colleagues, but to no avail. The Ministry of the Interior did not issue a statement or a comment of the reasons for their arrest, nor were they referred to the prosecution in violation of the Egyptian constitution, which stipulates that any person within 24 hours of his detention be brought before the competent prosecution .
Ikshef reiterates its full rejection of the abduction of journalists and condemns the continuing repressive policies targeting the remaining margin of freedom guaranteed by the constitution to citizens. Ikshef reiterates its call for the immediate release of all journalists who are detained and held, and hold Egyptian authorities responsible for their safety.
