Al Jazeera demands immediate release of Journalists unjustly detained in Egypt

Al Jazeera Media Network marked a somber milestone on Thursday, commemorating four years since journalist Bahaa Al-Din Ibrahim was incarcerated in Egyptian prisons.

The media network asserts that Ibrahim’s prolonged detention, surpassing the legally allowed pretrial period, constitutes a violation of his constitutional rights under Egyptian law and his entitlement to a fair trial or release.

In a statement, the media network declared, “Ibrahim’s continued detention places the Egyptian authorities under international scrutiny, holding them accountable for the alarming deterioration of his health.”

Expressing deep concern over Ibrahim’s plight and the arbitrary nature of his detention, the media network emphasized the dire lack of basic health and safety conditions, posing a serious threat to his life.

The network also highlighted the ongoing detention of another journalist, Rabee Al-Sheikh, since August 1, 2021, who similarly exceeds the stipulated pretrial detention period according to Egyptian law. Al Jazeera Media Network reaffirms its commitment to collaborating with international press freedom and human rights organizations, as well as international and regional judicial bodies, in a collective effort to secure the release of its journalists, Bahaa Al-Din Ibrahim and Rabee Al-Sheikh.

Al Jazeera calls for the immediate release of all journalists unjustly held in Egyptian prisons, underlining that “journalism is not a crime.”

The media network underscores its dedication to upholding press freedom and human rights, urging the international community to join in advocating for the release of these unjustly detained journalists.