Dutch reporter victim of citizen arrest in Egypt

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 12 years ago

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

Dive Deeper

Moldovan journalist Mariana Rață receives death threat after interview

 November 04, 2025: TV8 journalist Mariana Rata in Moldova receives a death threat after interviewing politician Renato Usatii on-air, raising concerns about journalist safety.

Belarus court jails journalist Siarhei Chabotska for three-and-a-half years over 'extremism' charges

 November 01, 2025: Belarus court jails journalist Siarhei Chabotska for extremism and defaming the president, highlighting Minsk’s ongoing crackdown on press freedom.

Mexican journalist Miguel Angel Beltran found murdered; CPJ demands justice

 November 01, 2025: Mexican journalist Miguel Angel Beltran was found murdered in Durango. CPJ urges authorities to ensure justice amid rising violence against journalists in Mexico.

One in three media lawyers unable to defend journalists, UNESCO survey finds

 November 01, 2025: UNESCO survey finds one-third of media lawyers cannot effectively defend journalists due to threats, limited resources, and lack of specialization.

Radio Free Asia suspends news operations amid US funding freeze

 October 31, 2025: Radio Free Asia, a US government-funded broadcaster covering tightly controlled Asian media environments, has suspended all news operations after federal funding dried up.

Senegal 7TV Director Maimouna Ndour Faye arrested in live broadcast raid

 October 30, 2025: CDEPS and CPJ condemn the arrest of 7TV’s Maimouna Ndour Faye and other journalists in a late October crackdown on Senegalese media over interviews with a wanted politician.

CPJ slams Turkey’s seizure of TELE1, calls for journalist’s release

 October 29, 2025: CPJ calls on Turkey to release journalist Merdan Yanardag and return control of TELE1, after his arrest on espionage charges and state media takeover.

CNN's Christiane Amanpour reveals recurrence of ovarian cancer

 October 26, 2025: CNN’s Christiane Amanpour reveals her ovarian cancer has returned but says it’s being well-managed, urging greater awareness and early diagnosis.