The Doha-based Al Jazeera network denounced in a statement on Wednesday the detention of four journalists who work for its English TV channel in Cairo Monday.
Journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, as well as correspondent Peter Greste and cameraman Mohamed Fawzy.
The statement added that the detentions come after a series of crackdowns against Al Jazeera teams and bureaus since July.
The network spokesperson deemed the arrests “arbitrary” and demanded immediate and unconditional release of the journalists.
“Our teams have been exposed to crackdown by security in Egypt since the coup. Our employees were arrested. Our equipment was confiscated. Our offices were stormed, although Al Jazeera network’s channels officially operate in Egypt and no official decision ordered its ban,” the statement added.
The network concluded the statement by saying that Reporters Without Borders has commented on the increasingly hostile climate towards journalists in Egypt, and also called for immediate release and return of equipment.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
