Arbitrary Detention of Rana Mamdouh Reflects Ongoing Efforts to Suppress Journalistic Work
March 10, 2024
The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) condemns the arbitrary detention of journalist Rana Mamdouh by Egyptian security forces today in Alameen City while she was en route to Ras El Hikma. AFTE urges the Egyptian authorities to release her immediately and to enable journalists to perform their duties without security obstacles.
Rana Mamdouh notified Madar Masr of her detention by the police forces at the Alameen Police Ambush, after which communication with her was lost following her transfer to the Alamein Police Station, according to a statement by the Syndicate of Journalists, Khaled Elbalshy.
As part of the Madar Masr team, Rana Mamdouh has faced numerous security and legal harassments in previous years, as Egyptian authorities attempted to restrict the work of independent news outlets. Her arbitrary detention for nearly 12 hours – as of the issuance of this statement – underscores the ongoing efforts of security agencies to prevent journalists from carrying out their work.
It is worth noting that Rana Mamdouh has been subjected to several violations. In 2018, she was subjected to inspection and confiscation of her passport by National Security officers at Cairo Airport and illegal interrogation after returning from an investigative journalism conference outside of Egypt. Police forces also arrested Rana Mamdouh and two other Madar Masr journalists in 2019 before being released by the Egyptian authorities hours later. Rana Mamdouh and three other Madar Masr journalists were also charged with spreading false news in 2023, following a journalistic investigation into the Nation’s Future Party, and were released on bail pending investigations.
These ongoing violations reflect an escalating crackdown on press freedom and highlight the urgent need to compel security agencies to respect the constitution and the law regarding the protection of journalists’ rights and ensuring their safety while performing their journalistic duties.
AFTE stresses the importance of the immediate release of journalist Rana Mamdouh and the cessation of targeting Madar Masr and also calls on the Egyptian authorities to protect journalists, enabling them to carry out their work and stop the increasing security interventions in journalism and the media.
