Egyptian journalist Karim Abdel Moean is one of several journalists detained as part of a mass trial. As of mid-October 2019, Egypt had charged over 3,690 people with membership in a banned group, spreading false news, and misusing social media platforms to disrupt national security, the local non-governmental organization, Egyptian Center for Economic & Social Rights, reported.
His arrest came as the government cracked down on protests against corruption in the army that included calls on President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to resign, according to news reports,.
Abdel Moean is reports on sports, culture and corruption for the state-owned newspapers al-Gomhuria and al-Messa, according to his Facebook page and posts from his friends.
Police arrested Abdel Moean at his house in Suez and detained him in an unknown location, a local press freedom advocate, who has spoken with the journalist’s sister, told CPJ. The advocate asked not to be named for fear of retaliation.
Abdel Moean is charged with membership in a banned group, spreading false news and misusing social media platforms to disrupt national security, the press freedom advocate told CPJ.
The advocate said that on September 30, a security state prosecutor ordered Abdel Moean to remain in pretrial detention for 15 days. Some lawyers and pro-government media in Egypt say that national security prosecutors can repeatedly renew detention periods until a trial begins.
As of late 2019, the Ministry of Interior, which has oversight of the police and prison system, and the prosecutor general’s office had not answered CPJ’s emails requesting comment.
CPJ was unable to determine where the journalist was being held, or the status of his health