Egypt extends detention of Al Jazeera journalist

Egyptian authorities have extended the detention of Al-Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein by another 15 days pending an investigation.

Hussein was arrested at his home in Cairo last month without charge and has allegedly been mistreated, had visits from his family denied, has been prevented from contacting his lawyer and spent time in solitary confinement. Hussein is believed to have been arrested whilst on holiday in Egypt for “incitement against state institutions and broadcasting false news with the aim of spreading chaos” which Al Jazeera has rejected.

“Al Jazeera deems all accusations against Hussein, including those which might be added later to the current allegations, to be a result of practices which violate international norms and conventions, and which, unfortunately, prevail in Egypt as exposed by human rights organisations,” the network said in a statement.

Hussein’s two brothers were also arrested at the time and their homes raided but have since been released.

It is thought that Hussein’s arrest was a reaction to a recent Al Jazeera documentary about Egyptian conscripts claiming to be mistreated while serving their compulsory military service. However, the network’s Managing Director Yasser Abu Hilala denied the claim.

READ: Egypt releases Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein after 4 years in custody

Since the military coup overthrew Egypt’s first democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi in 2013, Egypt has heavily cracked down on press freedoms and carefully monitored media sources. Authorities have also arrested members of Egypt’s press syndicate in which two members were sentenced to two years in prison.

In 2013, ten Al Jazeera employees were accused of spreading “false news” while broadcasting public demonstrations against the military coup. Of the ten, only three were detained, Baher Mohamed, Mohamed Fahmi, and Peter Greste.

Greste, an Australian, was held in prison for over a year and Mohamed and Fahmi were later released after spending 437 days in detention.