Egyptian court orders release of news editor

The Masr al-Arabia website was shuttered upon Adel Sabri's arrest in April, a day after authorities announced that President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi had won a second, four-year term in office.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

09 July, 2018

Egypt has regularly detained and prosecuted journalists since the 2013 coup. [Getty]

An Egyptian court has ordered the release of the editor of an independent news website accused of an array of charges, including membership in the banned Muslim Brotherhood group.

The Giza criminal court said Adel Sabri would be released on bail of 10,000 Egyptian pounds, or about $560. He is expected to leave jail later on Monday.

The Masr al-Arabia website was shuttered upon Sabri's arrest in April, a day after authorities announced that President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi had won a second, four-year term in office with 97 percent of the vote.

Sabri is accused of publishing false news and managing an unlicensed website.

Egypt has regularly detained and prosecuted journalists since the military overthrow of Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated president Mohammad Morsi in 2013, part of a wider crackdown on dissent.

Human rights groups estimate that as many as 60,000 political prisoners languish in Egyptian jails, significantly more than under Hosni Mubarak's dictatorship.