'We are journalists, not terrorists': Egyptian journalists continue protest for release of jailed colleagues

On Sunday evening, dozens of Egyptian journalists gathered outside the Journalists' Syndicate's headquarters in downtown Cairo in support of 23 imprisoned colleagues, many of whom are being held without trial.

"We are journalists, not terrorists. Raise your voice up… Write down [stories]… The price of freedom is death," shouted those who came, in reference to the authorities regularly detaining media workers over terrorism charges.

"Freedom for the artist…we can no longer be silenced…release our fellows from cells," the protesting added passionately, with some carrying a large banner that says "No to jailing and torturing journalists."  

Last month, freelance journalist Khaled Mamdouh and satirical cartoonist Ashraf Omar were detained from their homes during separate night raids by security forces and taken to undisclosed locations.

Days later, both men appeared before the state prosecution's office and were accused of "being involved in a terrorist group, disseminating false news and misusing social media tools"—the same set of charges frequently used over the past decade by the authorities against regime critics, activists and journalists.

Head of Journalists Syndicate Khaled El-Balshy said in a press conference last month that Egyptian authorities rejected at least 10 official requests by the union to visit imprisoned journalists.

"Negations have been under way between the syndicate and the prosecutor-general's office for the release of our colleagues, especially those have been in pre-trial detention," a source from the syndicate told The New Arab on condition of anonymity due to the political sensitivities.

In 2023, the Committee to Protect Journalist ranked Egypt among the world's worst jailers of journalists, tied with Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Media freedom and civil rights have significantly deteriorated since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi seized power following a military coup in 2013. 

In April last year, the Egyptian security authorities listed 33 journalists on a new "terrorism" watch list among 82 people, including activists, politicians, and human rights defenders, all living in self-exile outside the country.

Some 600 local and international news sites have also been blocked in Egypt, including Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the Arabic-language sister publication to The New Arab.

Prior to Sunday's protests, an exhibition of cartoons and a symbolic sit were held inside the syndicate premises to object to violations allegedly suffered by cartoonist Ashraf Omar in custody.

Despite a low turnout and a relatively limited media coverage, the whole event, which continued for about seven hours, witnessed a heavy security presence, including plain clothed policemen seen in and around the building.

Streets leading to the syndicate building in the busy downtown Abdel-Khalik Tharwat street were mostly cordoned off by security forces in armoured trucks.

As the night ended, protesters vowed to continue their pursuit to liberate their colleagues and their profession in a country marked at number 170 out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index.