Report: Egypt committed 75 violations against journalists in January

An Egyptian human rights group said on Wednesday it had documented 75 cases of violations committed by the Egyptian authorities against journalists’ rights during the month of January.

The Arab Media Freedom Monitor said in a statement: “The Egyptian authorities started 2016 with more violations against freedom of press and media.”

The group documented cases where journalists were arrested, physically abused, imprisoned and had their homes raided. There were also instances where journalists were prevented from covering events, writing and appearing in media outlets, denied travel and dismissed from work.

In a report released by the group, they documented one case of dismissal from work, two cases of raids, two cases of travel bans being placed on journalists, five cases of journalists being prevented from writing and appearing on broadcasts, five cases of arrests, ten cases of physical abuse, 14 cases of trials and imprisonment and 36 cases of the authorities preventing journalists from covering events.

The group also documented the arrest of cartoonist Eslam Jawish for publishing cartoons featuring Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi on his Facebook page.

Jawish was released the next day following public outcry.