Egyptian authorities are using courts to stifle journalism, said Amnesty international in a report released on Sunday.
The report outlined cases of 18 media personnel that had been jailed by Egyptian courts and dozens that were under criminal investigation.
Amnesty’s report, concluded,
“In Egypt today anyone who challenges the authorities’ official narrative, criticised the government or exposes human rights violations is at risk of being tossed into a jail cell, often to be held indefinitely, without charge or trial or face prosecution on trumped-up charges.”
Amnesty said that most convictions were made with a lack of evidence and were based solely on testimonies of the security forces.
Responding to the report, the Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson, Badr Abdelatty, said,
“Nobody is being targeted for being a journalist. Such accusations are politicised nonsense.”
The report outlined cases of 18 media personnel that had been jailed by Egyptian courts and dozens that were under criminal investigation.
Amnesty’s report, concluded,
“In Egypt today anyone who challenges the authorities’ official narrative, criticised the government or exposes human rights violations is at risk of being tossed into a jail cell, often to be held indefinitely, without charge or trial or face prosecution on trumped-up charges.”
Amnesty said that most convictions were made with a lack of evidence and were based solely on testimonies of the security forces.
Responding to the report, the Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson, Badr Abdelatty, said,
“Nobody is being targeted for being a journalist. Such accusations are politicised nonsense.”