AL-ALAM BUREAU CHIEF IN CAIRO RELEASED ON BAIL

Cairo, 14 Ramadan 1434/22 July 2013 (MINA) – Egypt’s security forces have released Ahmad al-Sioufi, head of Iran’s al-Alam Arabic-language news channel bureau in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on bail.

Al-Sioufi was released on Sunday on a bail of 10,000 Egyptian pounds (about 1,428 dollars), the online media rinf.com quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

He was detained on Saturday after Egyptian security forces stormed the office of al-Alam in Cairo under the unfounded allegation that the office has no official permission, confiscating the office’s equipment.

Al-Sioufi’s arrest was condemned by Egyptian journalists who staged a sit-in to protest against his arrest.

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Earlier on Sunday, Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini dismissed as “unacceptable” the attack on the al-Alam office in Cairo and the confiscation of its equipment.

“We expect to see an end to such behaviors as quickly as possible. Egypt is a Muslim state and we are ready to broaden cooperation with this country in all sectors,” the minister stated.

Egypt’s military-led authorities have shut down several stations, including one operated by the Muslim Brotherhood, after former president, Mohamed Morsi, was toppled by the army.

On July 3, Egyptian security forces raided the offices of al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr news channel, and detained at least five of its staff.

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Muslim Brotherhood-owned Egypt25 was also forced off the air and its managers were arrested shortly after General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt’s army chief, announced that Morsi and his government were no longer in office.

The authorities also shut down two other stations, al-Hafiz and al-Nas, after Morsi was overthrown. (T/P09/E1).

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).