The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, repeats its call on Egypt to free Al Jazeera journalist and IPI member Mahmoud Hussein, who has now spent 1,000 days behind bars.
Hussein was arrested on December 20, 2016, upon arriving at Cairo airport and accused of “disseminating false news and receiving monetary funds from foreign authorities in order to defame the state’s reputation”. His detention has been repeatedly extended despite a lack of official charges.
In January 2018, the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Hussein’s detention was arbitrary and that the conditions of his arrest and imprisonment amounted to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
“Egypt’s continued arbitrary detention of Mahmoud Hussein is an affront to basic international human rights principles”, IPI Executive Director Barbara Trionfi said. “Moreover, in holding Mr. Hussein without charges and refusing to release him despite a court order, Egypt has disregarded its own judicial system.”
Despite a court order on May 23 ordering Hussein’s release, Egyptian officials sent him back to the notorious Tora prison after briefly keeping him in a police station and raising hopes of his release. As per Egyptian law, Hussein should have been freed within 24 hours after the court order.
According to information received by IPI, the Egyptian government has launched a new investigation based on the previous accusations.
“We ask the Egyptian government to respect the rule of law by immediately releasing Mahmoud Hussein”, Trionfi said. “Press freedom is an essential element of a democratic society, which Egypt claims to be.”
An Egyptian national, Hussein worked as a news editor for Al Jazeera’s Arabic service until his arrest.
In 2018, IPI in collaboration with partner organizations, launched the #PressEgypt campaign to put pressure on the Egyptian government to secure the release of imprisoned journalists.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
• Read our background article on Mahmoud Hussein
• Read our interview with Mahmoud Hussein’s daughter Aya (February 2018), containing additional biographical information on Mahmoud Hussein
• Video: Mahmoud Hussein’s daughter calls for his release (February 2018)
• IPI’s #PressEgypt campaign website
