CAIRO: Egyptian and Arab human rights organizations have demanded the release of Egyptian journalist Shaimaa Adel, who was detained three days ago by the Sudanese authorities over covering the current unrest in the country. Egyptian, Iraqi, Lebanese, Syrian, Moroccan and Palestinian organization issued a joint statement on Monday calling for her immediate release. News about her release circulated, but without formal confirmation the organizations believe she is still under arrest. “The Sudanese authorities insist on attacking journalists viciously violating all international protocols that oblige countries to protect journalists who work in conflict zones and at dangerous times,” said the joint statement. Sudanese students and activists took to the streets of the capital Khartoum to protest the high cost of living and denounce the crackdown on public freedoms last month. Sudan police cracked down on protesters arresting dozens of them and reports of excessive violence towards the students was shared on social networks. The result has seen nationwide demonstrations erupt in the past week demanding the end of Omar al-Bashir's rule of the country. On Sunday, two protests were organized for Adel's release outside the Sudanese embassy in downtown Cairo and another outside the press syndicate where tens of journalists and activists, including Adel's mother, called for her immediate release and questioned her safety. Adel is the second detained Egyptian journalist in Sudan after journalist Salma al-Wardany was also detained for a few hours two weeks ago. The organizations called on the the Sudanese government to free the writer and take responsibility for her safety. They also called on the Egyptian foreign ministry to care about Adel's case and move towards freeing the young reporter and demanded that newly elected President Mohamed Morsi intervene and contact his counterpart in Sudan to speed her release. The signed organizations pleaded with the Arab League to formulate a protocol that guarantees the safety and protection of media workers in other Arab countries. A total of 29 Egyptian and 35 Arab rights organizations signed the statement.
