JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 09, 2013
Join our WhatsApp channel
CAIRO: A Dutch journalist working in Egypt said she was released Tuesday from nearly 12 hours in police custody after an Egyptian vigilante arrested her and turned her over to authorities, accusing her of spreading European culture and endangering the country.
Rena Netjes, a freelance reporter for a number of Dutch media who covers Egypt and Libya, told The Associated Press that the citizen who arrested her on Monday took her passport and handed her over to police in a Cairo suburb. At the time, she was asking young people in the area if she could interview them.
Prosecutors released her on Tuesday after police held her overnight. She spoke to AP while in custody and after her release.
"It was a joke," she said.
Vigilantism has been on the rise in Egypt along with lawlessness as a police force still weakened by the 2011 uprising has failed to rein in a surge in crime.
An official in the state prosecutor's office last month encouraged citizens to arrest lawbreakers and hand them to the police, setting off a political storm at a time when reports of vigilantism were already on the rise.
At least three people were killed last month by vigilantes who captured them and accused them of crimes.
At the same time, officials have been blaming foreigners for Egypt's chaos.
Netjes said she was shopping in her Cairo neighborhood of el-Rehab on Monday when a shop owner saw her asking people in his store if they were willing to be interviewed. The owner initially offered to help her.
But then he took her passport and refused to return it, she said. She accompanied him to the police station to get her passport. But the police refused to take her complaint and instead interrogated her about the vigilante's allegations. She did not have her media accreditation with her at the time. - AP
April 21, 2025: An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
March 29, 2025: A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025: Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.
March 25, 2025: Turkish authorities must release detained journalists covering protests and end press crackdowns. CPJ condemns police violence and home raids targeting media workers.
March 16, 2025: The Trump administration has ordered furloughs at U.S.-funded broadcasters, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, raising concerns about press freedom and government control over media funding.
March 08, 2025: Senior UK TV producers are taking shelf-stacking and pub jobs as the industry faces a prolonged crisis. Thousands are unemployed, with freelancers struggling to find work. Learn more about the factors behind this collapse.
February 28, 2025: CPJ urges Russian authorities to drop charges against journalist Ekaterina Barabash, who faces up to 10 years in jail for criticizing the Ukraine invasion. Learn how fake news laws are being used to silence dissenting voices in Russia.
February 21, 2025: Ghanaian authorities must investigate the attack on five journalists covering Ashanti Region elections. CPJ urges accountability to ensure press freedom and safety.
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.
April 23, 2025 Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025 Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.