The family of an Egyptian-Canadian journalist detained in Cairo is decrying allegations the man and his reporting team were broadcasting false news that harmed national security.
Mohamed Fahmy‘s family also says that contrary to suggestions from Egypt’s prosecutors, the 40-year-old has no affiliation to the Muslim Brotherhood, which the local government considers a terrorist group.
READ MORE: Family of reporter arrested in Egypt wants Ottawa to do more
Fahmy, an Australian correspondent and an Egyptian producer – all working for Al-Jazeera English – were taken into custody on Dec. 29 at a Cairo hotel room, where they were working after the government raided the offices of the Qatar-based satellite news broadcaster.
Fahmy has since been languishing in a cold, dark, insect-ridden cell at a notorious Cairo prison, and has been interrogated multiple times although no formal charges have been laid.
Egypt’s prosecutors say the detained journalists were interrogated today on suspicion of having unlicensed equipment and broadcasting false news that harmed national security.
READ MORE: Syria among most deadly nations for journalists in 2013: Report
The chief prosecutors’s office also said some of the men confessed to being members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
A Foreign Affairs spokesman in Ottawa has said consular officials have been in touch with the Canadian-Egyptian journalist, but Fahmy’s family says the Canadian government is not doing enough to secure his release.
Al-Jazeera insists the three journalists were just doing their jobs.
Comments