(AFP PHOTO / MAHMOUD KHALED)
The Arab Network for Human Rights and Information (ANHRI) condemned the arrest of an Al-Dostour journalist and Press Syndicate member in Beheira governorate on Sunday, World Press Freedom Day.
Beheira security forces broke into Ahmed Qaoud’s house at dawn and assaulted him before he was arrested. According to ANHRI, security forces confiscated his laptop, cell phone and the cell phones of his family members, which they believe are linked to his reporting. Qaoud is now detained at the Rahmaneya prosecution awaiting police investigations.
Another journalist was arrested on Sunday by security forces using similar practices. Atef Abdel Mawla, a journalist at Al-Mesreyoon website and Press Syndicate member, was arrested from his home in Menufiya governorate after security forces broke into his home and assaulted him.
According to Al-Mesreyoon, the security forces accused the journalist of charges he did not commit. It started when they previously broke into his house on 29 April to arrest his father on a cheque fraud misdemeanour. When he asked them about the prosecution’s arrest order, they assaulted him and took him to the Qoweisna police station and charged him with further accusations, including preventing verdict execution and insulting the police suit. He was detained for four days, and then received a renewal of 15 days of detention pending investigations.
Several journalists have been arrested in Egypt in the first quarter of 2015, in addition to many others who have been detained since the second uprising in 2013 whilst performing their jobs.
Another journalist from Al-Dostour was arrested in April, following a campaign launched by the paper against the Interior Ministry. The paper published a series of reports on alleged police violations.
The Beheira governorate also witnessed the arrests of two journalists in 2015 with no information on charges. The two brothers, Ahmed and Mahmoud Kaoud, were arrested at dawn from their house in Al-Magd village, after security officers stormed their family’s house at around 3am.
