Egypt: Al Jazeera Journalist Hisham Abdelaziz released from prison as Egypt moves closer to Qatar

Posted On 1 May 2023

Number of times this article was read : 478
Influencing the influencers: Some of The North Africa Journal's subscribers
From Shield & Alert:
Senegal at the Center of Another Geopolitical FightMali: Al Qaeda attacks rebel convoy in the Ouagadou forestFrom a Russian Grain Export Onslaught to a Ban on French Cattle: Agricultural Trade Between France and Algeria in StandstillNiger and Algeria recall their ambassadors over undocumented migrantsSenegal: Disgraced President leaves office to find shelter in MarrakeshMorocco: Health workers go on strike, demand implementation of reformsAlgeria: President announces early election, no one knows whyAlgeria: Beware of forgery. New law seeks to reduce fraud and white collar crimeMorocco: Price of butane gas to increase by 25% in AprilUS-Niger relations face uncertainty, with Niamey’s pivot to RussiaBrief: Tunisia: The Lazy GovernorsAlgeria: Opposition leader Zoubida Assoul announces presidential bidAgriculture: Spanish farmers say Moroccan strawberries carry virus, as Morocco surpasses Spain as tomato supplier to EUBloody Sunday: The indiscriminate killing of Muslim and Catholic worshipers in Burkina FasoNiger and Mali up their anti-Western positions, lash out at France and USNiger: Two soldiers killed in insurgent attack in DiffaMali: Katiba Mecina insurgents raid military camp in Niono, repelledSenegal’s outgoing president prepares for disgraced exitAlgeria-Morocco Competition for Regional Influence Shifts to Economic AffairsLibya: Bank and power company employees detained over separate corruption affairs
1286 issue: week ending 5 May 202

The authorities in Egypt have released a journalist with the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news network nearly four years after he was detained, the media outlet said. Hisham Abdelaziz, a producer with the  network’s Mubasher channel, was arrested in June 2019 after being stopped while travelling from his Qatar base to Cairo for a family visit. He was charged with “publishing false news” and “joining an  outlawed group”, according to the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) in Egypt. It said Abdelaziz was released in December 2019 but detained again later in another case.

“Egyptian authorities have released Al Jazeera journalist Hisham Abdelaziz after he was held for almost four years in pre-trial detention,” Al Jazeera said on its website. Two more Al Jazeera journalists, Bahauddin Ibrahim and Rabie al-Sheikh, are still being held in Egypt on similar charges. In September 2022, Egypt released Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed al-Najidi after holding him for two years.

Cash-strapped Egypt has moved considerably closer to Qatar, the gas-rich Gulf emirate, as it seeks to boost its coffers by selling state assets to wealthy Gulf nations. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) considers Egypt one of the world’s main jailers of journalists, with more than 20 reporters currently behind bars. Rights groups say there are currently 60,000 political prisoners in Egypt, with many held on charges of “spreading false news”. RSF ranks Egypt 168th out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index.

AFP
Other Articles in this Week's Issue<< The collapsing SudanTunisia: UGTT union chief rejects talks with IMF in fear of tough austerity measures >>
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Senegal at the Center of Another Geopolitical Fight

Senegal at the Center of Another Geopolitical Fight

By Arezki Daoud: France is experiencing an unprecedented backlash in the Sahel and in West Africa.  Disastrous post-colonial policies forced the people of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to expel French troops and diplomats, reducing Paris' entrenched but...

Mali: Al Qaeda attacks rebel convoy in the Ouagadou forest

Mali: Al Qaeda attacks rebel convoy in the Ouagadou forest

By MondAfrique:  A column of armed vehicles from the Permanent Strategic Framework (CSP), the Touareg rebel coalition driven out of Kidal, was attacked by fighters from the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM) on Friday in the Ouagadou forest, while that it was...

From a Russian Grain Export Onslaught to a Ban on French Cattle: Agricultural Trade Between France and Algeria in Standstill

From a Russian Grain Export Onslaught to a Ban on French Cattle: Agricultural Trade Between France and Algeria in Standstill

Agricultural trade between France and Algeria is experiencing challenges that are primarily affecting French exporters. From the onslaught of the Russian grain exports to Algeria, essentially displacing French exporters, to Algeria banning French cattle due to EHDV disease, not all is well between Algeria and France in the agricultural trade sector. The most affected parties in this situation are French producers and exporters, who are looking for new initiatives to fight back.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This