The Shubra El-Kheima prosecution ordered on Tuesday the continuation of detention for Yanair Gate’s editor-in-chief Amr Badr and journalist Mahmoud Al-Saqa for an additional 15 days.
Both journalists were arrested on 1 May after police forces stormed the Press Syndicate to detain them, claiming they had been taking shelter there despite an arrest warrant issued by the prosecution. They face charges of inciting protests and attempting to overthrow the regime.
This comes as Press Syndicate head Yehia Qalash, along with two senior syndicate members, were called in by prosecution authorities earlier this month for questioning over claims of “harbouring wanted suspects”. Defence lawyer Mohamed Eissa said he and several lawyers were prevented from attending the interrogations.
The syndicate leaders then were referred to trial as the Abdeen Misdemeanor Court presides over the case against them, being charged of harbouring Badr and Al-Saqa and also propagating false news.
Badr and Al-Saqa started a sit-in in front of the headquarters of the Press Syndicate in downtown Cairo in late April, protesting two security raids that were conducted at their private residencies at dawn. Police confiscated Badr’s laptop and camera, among other personal property during the raids.
On 26 May, appeals for the detention of Badr, Al-Saqa, lawyers Malek Adly, and Sayed Al-Banna, and two others were rejected by the Shubra Al-Kheima court.
