Egypt detains freelance journalist Basma Mostafa

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 October 2020

Basma Mostafa, a freelance journalist, was arrested by Egyptian state security forces while covering a police incident in Luxor. She faces charges of spreading false news and has been ordered to be held for 15 days pending trial.

Summary

NEW YORK—On October 3, state security forces arrested freelance journalist Basma Mostafa upon her arrival at a bus stop in the southern city of Luxor, where she had traveled to cover the alleged killing of a man, Ewais al-Rawy, during a police raid for the al-Manassa newspaper, according to her lawyer and husband Karim Abdelrady who spoke with CPJ via messaging app.

The following day, the state security prosecutor charged Mostafa with spreading false news, misusing social media, and joining a terrorist organization, and ordered her to be detained for 15 days pending trial, according to Abdelrady and news reports.

“CPJ is troubled by the state security prosecutor’s decision to detain journalist Basma Mostafa on vague charges that are clear retaliation for covering news that the Egyptian government wants to suppress,” said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour. “Authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Mostafa and ensure that all members of the press can report freely.”

According to CPJ’s 2019 prison census, at least 26 journalists are in Egyptian custody on charges related to their reporting; many are awaiting trial.—A CPJ statement/Photo by: Karim Abdelrady

KEY POINTS:

• Basma Mostafa was arrested on October 3 in Luxor, Egypt.
• She was covering the death of Ewais al-Rawy during a police raid.
• Mostafa is charged with spreading false news and joining a terrorist organization.
• Her detention has raised concerns about press freedom in Egypt.
• CPJ calls for her immediate release and protection for journalists.