Egypt’s press union chief rejects pressure over detained journalists

What the report says

Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate has defended its stance on six detained journalists from the independent investigative outlet Matsadaash, saying it will keep pressing for press freedom despite criticism from pro-government voices. According to Al Jazeera, syndicate head Khaled Elbalshy said the group filed a complaint with Egypt’s public prosecutor after allegations that the journalists were tortured in custody. Egyptian authorities deny those allegations.

The six journalists — Mohamed Adel, Mohamed Ashraf Abu Emeira, Islam Barakat, Omar Helal, Mohamed Mahmoud and Abdallah Qadry — were arrested on September 28 and 29 and later appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution. They were ordered held for 15 days in pretrial detention while investigators examine accusations that they worked for a media platform linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt has designated a terrorist organization. Matsadaash and its co-founder have rejected any such link.

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, which is representing the journalists, said they were initially held for five days without access to family or lawyers. It also said some detainees alleged beatings, electric shocks and forced confessions, claims rejected by the Interior Ministry. Al Jazeera reported that the syndicate and rights groups argue the case reflects wider restrictions on media freedom in Egypt, where independent outlets have often faced pressure.