The Defense Front for Journalists and Freedoms Condemns the Resurgence of Arrests and Calls for Healthcare and Improved Conditions for Detainees in Al-Aqrab Prison: A New Wave of Targeting Journalists and Press Freedom

Statement by the Revolutionary Socialists

The front demands the release of all imprisoned journalists, condemns the arrest of colleagues Badr and Abdel Moneim, and is considering reviving the “We Will Treat Them and Release Them” campaign.
The Defense Front for Journalists and Freedoms condemns the latest wave of targeting journalists, which in recent weeks has included the arrest of three colleagues, the reversal of release orders for three others within just 24 hours of their initial announcement, and the extension of their detention for an additional 45 days. These actions have come alongside increasing violations against imprisoned journalists and a deterioration in their health conditions. This coincides with the recent one-year suspended sentence in the Syndicate case.

Recently, security forces arrested the following colleagues: Ahmed Abu Deraa, a correspondent for Al-Masry in Sinai; Ahmed Abdel Moneim, managing editor of Al-Mukhtar Al-Islami; and Badr Mohamed Badr, former editor-in-chief of Al-Usra Al-Arabiya. While Ahmed Abu Deraa was released after five days—apparently with no apparent reason for his detention other than being from Sinai—Ahmed Abdel Moneim remains in custody after being arrested during a seminar a few days ago. The whereabouts of Badr Mohamed Badr remain unknown after security forces raided his home and office yesterday.

The front emphasizes that the timing of these arrests (Abu Deraa, Abdel Moneim, and Badr) coincided with the reversal of release orders for colleagues Mohamed Hassan, Hamdy El-Zaem, and Osama El-Bishbishi, who were initially supposed to be released with precautionary measures, but instead had their detention extended by an additional 45 days, according to their lawyers. Furthermore, families of imprisoned journalists in Al-Aqrab Prison have reported escalating violations and worsening health conditions. These developments reflect the current regime’s stance on journalism and the repression that journalists are increasingly facing.

The Defense Front for Journalists strongly condemns this new wave of attacks on the press and demands the immediate release of all imprisoned journalists. The front holds the Ministry of Interior responsible for the declining health of colleagues such as Hisham Gaafar and others imprisoned in Al-Aqrab. Moreover, it holds the ministry accountable for the condition of colleague Badr Mohamed Badr, whose family has confirmed that he suffers from various health problems, including liver disease.

The front urges all colleagues to attend its meeting on Sunday, April 6, to discuss how to respond to this new wave of press freedom attacks and outline its action plan for the coming period, including reviving the “We Will Treat Them and Release Them” campaign.