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Press Freedom Under Threat .

In what has developed into a pattern, Egypt’s authoritarian regime, led by Gen Al-Sisi who attained power via a bloody and violent military coup, has yet again attacked media freedom.

We at Media Review Network find it utterly reprehensible that Al-Sisi’s security agents stormed the press bureau of Turkey’s Anadolu Agency in Cairo and detained a number of employees.

We condemn the raid and express our outrage that those detained without any valid legal basis, have been taken to undisclosed locations.

We deplore the Sisi regime’s high-handed attack and view it as an assault on press freedoms.

To deny Anadolu Agency the right to freely conduct its media operations, is a serious violation of journalists’ ability to report without fear.

We are convinced that this assault and forced disappearance of key staff at Anadolu, is an attempt to intimidate journalists who are perceived to be anti-Sisi.

Though tensions between Cairo and Istanbul are at an all-time high due to President Erdogan’s resolve to prevent Sisi’s proxy Gen Haftar from military takeover of Libya, we find it disgusting that a well-respected Turkish media agency can be attacked in this brutal manner.

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all detained employees, and an assurance that such draconian anti-media raids will be suspended.

We urge the African Union to intervene urgently and obtain the  release of the detainees.

Issued by:

Iqbal Jassat

Exec Member

Media Review Network

Johannesburg

South Africa

 

Iqbal Jassat
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