Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Detention renewed for hunger-striking journalist
Published in Daily News Egypt on 11 - 06 - 2014

On Wednesday hunger-striking Al Jazeera journalist Abdullah Elshamy and hundreds of others who have been in prison for nearly 10 months without formal charges had their detention renewed once again for an additional 45 by a Cairo court.
Though the court decision was expected, said Elshamy's brother Mosa'ab Elshamy, family and friends were hopeful that "his [worsening] health situation and hunger strike would…be taken into consideration."
"These [court] decisions seem like they're already pre-planned," Mosa'ab.
According to Mosa'ab, Elshamy and his attorney were able to meet with the judge before the hearing. When ask by the judge what Elshamy was demanding from his hunger strike, he said "justice."
Elshamy, who was detained with over 400 others and is yet to be charged, is facing an uphill legal battle, said Mosa'ab. Elshamy is represented by both his family's lawyer and a legal team from Al Jazeera. Elshamy was arrested on 14 August during the violent clearing of the pro-Mohamed Morsi sit-in at Rabaa Al-Adaweya Mosque by state security forces.
Elshamy has been on hunger strike for 142 days, and medical tests by an independent doctor in mid-May revealed that he is suffering from "acute anaemia, the onset of kidney dysfunction, low blood pressure and hypoglycaemia, and his weight had dropped from 108 to 68 kilograms", according to his lawyer.
On Tuesday hunger-striking political detainee Mohamed Soltan was transferred from prison to the intensive care unit at Qasr El-Ainy Hospital, according to Soltan's Hanaa Soltan. Both the hospital and the Ministry of Interior denied Soltan had been moved to the hospital.
Soltan, an Egyptian-America who graduated from Ohio State University, served as press liaison for the Muslim Brotherhood at the mass sit-in at Rabaa Al-Adaweya last summer, and was shot in the arm during its forcible dispersal.
In addition to Elshamy, three journalists working for Al Jazeera's English network have been detained since being arrested on 29 December. Cairo bureau chief Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, correspondent Peter Greste, and producer Baher Mohamed are currently standing trial for spreading false news, and are accused of "creating a terrorist media network". Their trial has been delayed or adjourned 11 times since its first session in January. They are next scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
The arrests and detention of journalists in Egypt has garnered international ire. The US State Department called the charges against the Al Jazeera English journalists "spurious", while the White House, the European Union, the United Nations and the Australian government have all expressed their unequivocal condemnation, and called for the journalists' release. People around the world have staged protests in solidarity with the journalists, demanding their release.
Egypt has experienced an increasingly severe crackdown on voices of dissent. There are currently 16 journalists detained in Egyptian prisons. The Committee to Protect Journalists has ranked Egypt the third most dangerous country for journalists after Syria and Iraq. The country ranked 159th out of 180 in the 2013 Reporters Without Borders "Press Freedom Index".
Al Jazeera has unequivocally denied any wrongdoing by its journalists.


Clic here to read the story from its source.