Law and Democracy Support Foundation (LDSF) is launching a campaign titled “Free the Journalists” to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Egyptian journalists imprisoned because of their work or for expressing their opinions.
At least 20 journalists remain in Egyptian prisons on political charges, either in pre-trial detention or sentenced by exceptional courts. Their detention periods range from months to years, despite the Egyptian constitution guaranteeing freedom of opinion and expression in Article 65, prohibiting media censorship or restrictions in Article 70, and banning imprisonment for publication offences in Article 71. Additionally, Egypt’s commitments under international law, as stated in Article 93 of the Egyptian constitution, uphold Article 19, paragraph 2, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which ensures freedom of opinion and expression.
LDSF affirms that imprisoning journalists due to their journalistic work constitutes a blatant violation of press and media freedom in Egypt. LDSF demands an end to the targeting of journalists and media professionals, their immediate release, and respect for press and media freedom.
It is noted that Egypt fell to the 170th position out of 180 countries in 2024 on the list of countries extremely dangerous for press freedom, published annually by Reporters Without Borders. Additionally, it ranks 17th among 22 Arab countries. In the Middle East and North Africa, it ranks 34th out of 40 countries. According to the 2023 Press Freedom Index issued by Reporters Without Borders, Egypt was ranked 166th out of 180 countries. Thus, Egypt has fallen four places, settling at the bottom among the countries extremely dangerous for journalists.
Join us in our campaign #Free_The_Journalists to demand the immediate release of Egyptian journalists unjustly imprisoned. Journalism is not a crime! Through this campaign, we aim to highlight their stories, share their experiences, and call on the authorities to release them now!
