Egyptian military court sentences journalist to 10 years in jail

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 22 May 2018

Ismail Alexandrani was sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Egyptian military court for allegedly spreading false news. His detention highlights the media restrictions in Egypt, particularly regarding reporting on the Sinai region.

Summary

CAIRO - An Egyptian military court has sentenced a freelance journalist who reported on the Sinai insurgency to 10 years in prison on terror-related charges.

The Cairo military court on Tuesday convicted Ismail Alexandrani of spreading false news and joining an outlawed group, without identifying it. The verdict can be appealed.

Alexandrani was detained in 2015 upon his return to Egypt after delivering a presentation on Sinai militancy in Berlin. He worked for several news outlets in Egypt.

Egypt has heavily restricted media access to the northern Sinai, where it has struggled to combat an Islamic State-led insurgency that has carried out attacks across the country.

Egyptian authorities have jailed several journalists as part of a wide-ranging crackdown on dissent, and have passed vague laws criminalizing the dissemination of "false news." - AP

KEY POINTS:

• Ismail Alexandrani sentenced by Egyptian military court.
• Convicted on charges of spreading false news and joining an outlawed group.
• Detained in 2015 after returning from a presentation in Berlin.
• Egyptian authorities have intensified crackdowns on journalists.
• Verdict can be appealed.