Reporters Without Borders said Egypt was ranked 161 out of 180 in 2017 World Press Freedom Index making it one of the world’s worst countries to be a journalist.
According to the report Egypt has dropped two positions in the past year.
The report cited examples of Egyptian journalists such as Mohammed Abu-Zeid, known by his alias, Shawkan, who has been under arbitrary detention for three years.
Abu-Zeid was arrested for reporting on the security apparatus’ violent crackdown to break-up a sit-in organised by the Muslim Brotherhood, which the local authorities consider a terrorist organisation.
Another example is freelance journalist Ismail Al-Iskandarani who has been behind bars since his arrest in November 2015 despite a court order to release him issued in November 2016.
Under Gen. Sisi’s leadership, the authorities have waged a witch-hunt since 2013 against journalists suspected of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, and have orchestrated a ‘Sisification’ of the media.
Mauritania and Tunisia were the leading Arab nations were press freedoms were concerned.