Egypt sentences TV anchors to 15 years in jail for 'Brotherhood ties'

Egypt’s Zagazig Criminal Court in Sharqiya yesterday sentenced TV presenters Moataz Matar and Hossam Al Shorbagy to 15 years in prison each in absentia for contempt of court and joining the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Matar, a presenter on Al Sharq TV, and Al Shorbagy, who works at Mekameleen, were referred to trial in November 2019 after they accused a judge of misusing his judicial authority and position.

Local media reported that in 2015, Matar was sentenced to ten years imprisonment and was fined 700 Egyptian pounds ($44.57) for “incitement to overthrow the regime and spreading false news”.

Egypt regularly accuses those who criticise the government with memebership of the Brotherhood in an effort to push terrorism related charges on them. Even those who have condemned the group have been held for their alleged links to it.

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