An urgent list issued by an international organization concerned with press freedom has highlighted the names of detained journalists, some of whom were killed earlier, as part of its efforts to draw attention to journalists who are under threat or harassment around the world.
The list, issued every month by the New York-based Free Press Alliance, included the names of 14 journalists, four of them from Yemen, two from Egypt, and one from India.
The organization says the aim of issuing this emergency list is to highlight journalists who are imprisoned, threatened, or facing injustice.
Media organizations can join the @OneFreePress Coalition by emailing [email protected]. Be a part of the conversation using #OneFreePress. See more: https://t.co/usJcxdTgiy pic.twitter.com/2rZDVIODPP
— One Free Press Coalition (@OneFreePress) July 1, 2020
The organization began issuing this list about a year and a half ago and usually consists of new names and others who appeared in previous lists, which allows us to define the suffering of new journalists and ensure the sustainability of the campaigns that were launched earlier against targeted journalists.
Sulafa Magdy(Egypt) : An Egyptian journalist arrested with her husband Hossam Al-Sayyad in November 2019, after accusing them of belonging to a banned group and publishing false news because she wrote reports on human rights and illegal immigration.
No. 3 on the 10 Most Urgent list this month: Solafa Magdy #OneFreePress pic.twitter.com/MRdsGjfUsK
— One Free Press Coalition (@OneFreePress) July 1, 2020
For more than four months, there has been no information about her condition despite her health problems.
She was subjected to intentional medical negligence in light of the increased risk of infection with the emerging coronavirus, due to overcrowding and inhuman conditions in Egyptian prisons.
Masrat Zahra(India) : Police investigate, harass, and intimidate photojournalist for images posted to Facebook. Masrat Zahra, a freelance photojournalist in Kashmir, could face a fine or up to seven years in prison under a law permitting India’s counterterrorism police to detain suspects for extended periods without a formal charge. Police summoned her for questioning in April, opening an investigation of photographs posted on social media “glorifying anti-national activities ” without specifying which images were deemed “an offense against the state.”
Mohamed Monir(Egypt) : He was arrested by Egyptian security officers dressed in civilian clothes in Giza on June 15, on charges of joining a “terrorist group”, spreading false news, and misusing social media.
No. 7 on the 10 Most Urgent list this month: Mohamed Monir #OneFreePress pic.twitter.com/cR8QFTYQuu
— One Free Press Coalition (@OneFreePress) July 1, 2020
The 65-year-old suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems.
Days before his arrest, he wrote an article for the Al-Jazeera website, criticizing the government’s handling of the Corona pandemic.
Abdul Khaleq Omran, Akram Al-Waleedi, Hareth Hameed, and Tawfiq Al-Mansouri(Yemen) : The four Yemeni journalists were sentenced to death on April 11 by a Houthi court.
No. 4 on the 10 Most Urgent list this month: Abdulkhaleq Amran, Akram al-Waleedi, Hareth Hameed and Tawfiq al-Mansouri #OneFreePress pic.twitter.com/SJwvAPj2XZ
— One Free Press Coalition (@OneFreePress) July 1, 2020
The four journalists were detained five years ago after being accused of spreading false news “to support the crimes of Saudi aggression and its allies against the Republic of Yemen.”
Last June, the United Nations joined more than 150 organizations demanding their release.
Jamal Khashoggi(Saudi Arabia) : The organization calls for the continuation of the investigation into the circumstances of the killing of the Saudi journalist at his country’s consulate in Istanbul about a year and a half ago.
No. 10 on the 10 Most Urgent list this month: Jamal Khashoggi #OneFreePress pic.twitter.com/fnEgxb3Nhx
— One Free Press Coalition (@OneFreePress) July 1, 2020
Click here for the complete list.
She adds that lawmakers from the Democratic Party are working to legislate a new law in the US House of Representatives to press for the disclosure of classified results relating to the role of the Saudi authorities in his death.
