Egypt’s State Security Prosecution office released on Thursday Mohamed al-Sayyed Saleh, the former editor-in-chief of privately-owned newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm (AMAY), on a bail of LE10,000, over the newspaper’s coverage of the presidential election.
The State Prosecution officer released 8 other AMAY journalists earlier the same day, without bail.
Lawyer Samir Sabry filed a case with the Public Prosecution office in March accusing the newspaper of insulting Egyptian state institutions with the paper’s front page on March 29, which reported that the government is mobilizing voters to turnout for the election.
The Public Prosecution office referred the case to State Security Prosecution office.
AMAY have defended his coverage for the presidential elections and expressed support for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCM) subsequently fined AMAY LE150,000 and referred Saleh and a journalist for investigations at the Syndicate of Journalists.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
