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Al-Masry Al-Youm reporter Ahmed Abu Draa was arrested on Thursday and sent by the Ismailia military court to 15 days in prison, pending investigation.
Abu Draa faces the charges of publishing false news about the army inside Egypt and abroad.
Al-Masry Al-Youm has organized a legal committee to follow up on the case and defend Abu Draa, in addition to notifying the journalists’ union and the Supreme Press Council to garner support for Abu Draa.
Many parties and political forces denounced the arrest of Abu Draa, including the Constitution Party, stressing party support of freedom of the press and information and denouncing the military trials for civilians.
The party also criticized publishing Abu Draa’s photo, with other suspects, after being arrested by the forces.
April 6 Youth Movement demanded the quick release of the detained journalist, “It is unacceptable that a journalist is arrested in his country, though he has won international awards for freedom of the press abroad.”
The Freedoms Committee at the Lawyers Syndicate of North Sinai declared its solidarity with Abu Draa, and formed the Sinai Lawyers against Arbitrary Arrest, to defend the detainees.
Other Sinai-based activists also pledged solidarity with Abu Draa, calling for a protest in front of the Journalist Syndicate in his support.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm