Prosecutor General Tala'at Abdallah received a note from the presidency stating the institution's withdrawal of all complaints filed against journalists and media figures. The withdrawal decision implements President Mohamed Morsi's pledge to withdraw complaints filed by the presidency against media figures to ensure freedom for media organisations. Hassan Yassin, the head of the Prosecutor General's Technical Office, informed all relevant prosecution offices to terminate investigations related to the complaints, according to state-owned Al-Ahram. The waived complaints included charges against Sout El-Umma newspaper and its editor-in-chief Abdel Haleem Qandeel. Al-Nahar TV channel and its owner Alaa El-Kahky, as well as TV anchor Mahmoud Saad, who was also under investigation. Complaints were also made against Al-Youm Al-Sabea newspaper and its editor-in-chief Khaled Salah, Al Kahera Wal Nas TV channel and its owner Ibrahim Eissa, in addition to Al-Wafd, Al-Fagr, Al Masry Al Youm, and Al-Watan newspapers. Morsi issued a decision to cancel detention on remand for press-related issues in August 2012, following the detention of Islam Afify, Al-Dostour newspaper editor-in-chief, on charges of insulting Morsi.
