EGYPT ARREST FOUR AL JAZEERA JOURNALISTS

Cairo, 27 Shafar 1435/30 Desember 2013 (MINA) – Egypt’s security forces have arrested four Al Jazeera journalists in Cairo on Sunday evening.

Correspondent Peter Greste, producers Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed as well as cameraman Mohamed Fawzy are being held in custody after arrested by security forces.

Greste is a veteran journalist who previously worked for Reuters, CNN and the BBC over the past two decades, Al Jazeera quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The interior ministry said the journalists had held illegal meetings with the Muslim Brotherhood, which was declared a terrorist group last week.

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There has been a crackdown on the Islamist movement since the army ousted President Mohammed Morsi on July 3.

Since then, more than 1,000 pro-Morsi protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces, and thousands of Brotherhood supporters have been arrested, including the majority of its leadership.

Human rights groups say conditions for journalists in Egypt have become difficult since Morsi was removed.

The latest arrests come after a series of clashes between police and Muslim Brotherhood supporters across Egypt.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Monday that Egypt, Syria and Iraq have become among the deadliest countries for journalists to work in.

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In a special report released by the New York-based organisation said conditions in the country had “deteriorated dramatically”.

“Amid stark political polarisation and related street violence, things deteriorated dramatically for journalists in Egypt, where six journalists were killed for their work in 2013.”

Al Jazeera demands the immediate release of their journalists. (T/P09/P04).

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)