JournalismPakistan.com | Published September 11, 2018
Join our WhatsApp channel
BRUSSELS – The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has branded the decision of an Egyptian court to free photojournalist Shawkan as "long overdue".
Mahmoud Abou Zeid, better known as Shawkan, winner of the UNESCO/Guillermo-Cano World Press Freedom Prize in 2018, had faced the death penalty but was sentenced on Saturday 8th September to five years in prison. Having already served that time since his arrest in 2013 he is now to be freed.
The IFJ welcomed Shawkan's imminent return to his family and friends but condemned his long imprisonment simply for working as a journalist.
Shawkan was arrested in Cairo on 14 August 2013 while covering a police crackdown on protesters in Rabaa Square, also known as the Rabaa Massacre.
The freelance journalist was allegedly charged with multiple offences including “damaging national unity”, “terrorizing citizens” and “attempted murder of police officers”.
Before the verdict on 8 September, it has been reported that Shawkan, against whom no evidence of the charges of wrongdoing has never been produced, suffered from chronic anaemia and hepatitis C and from mistreatment by Egyptian officials.
The IFJ considers Shawkan’s condemnation unfair and a heavy price to pay for just doing his job.
In March this year, IFJ president Philippe Leruth wrote a letter to Egypt President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in which he expressed grave concerns over Shawkan and other journalists’ detention and called on the Egyptian authorities to stop arresting and intimidating journalists. The day before the verdict, the IFJ renewed its call to free Shawkan in the name of press freedom.
IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger said: “Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid ‘Shawkan’ will soon be free. It is long overdue - five years late. The IFJ is delighted about his imminent release but does not forget the five years he served in prison for doing his job as a journalist: to inform his fellow citizens. This judgement is a threatening message for journalists working in Egypt and therefore, an attack on press freedom”.
The IFJ is calling on the Egyptian authorities to release all the remaining journalists in jail including Mahmoud Hussain and Ismael Iskandarani. – IFJ media release/ Photo courtesy: http://www.telesurtv.net
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.