Al-Alam News Network Managing Director In Cairo Freed

Cairo, July 22, IRNA – Managing Director of Al-Alam news network Ahmad al-Soyoufi was freed from prison Sunday evening after depositing bond. Al-Soyoufi who had been arrested in the course of Egyptian security forces invasion against Al-Alam office in Cairo on Saturday on phony accusation of having journalist activities without acquiring the required license was freed after depositing 10,000 Egyptian jonaihs (about 1,500 US dollars). The Egyptian Journalists Association had earlier condemned the invasion of the country’s security forces against the Cairo office of Al-Alam and their confiscation of that news networkˈs media facilities, calling it ˈbreaching of the Constitution and contrary to freedom of expressionˈ. The Egyptian Journalists Association also asked the countryˈs officials to put an end to such acts, free the remaining detained Al-Alam journalists, and return their confiscated professional media facilities to them. The association has also emphasized that in reaction to such invasions and breaching of the journalistsˈ absolute rights it is going to hold an emergency meeting. Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini reacting to the move said on Sunday that the Egyptian government’s ban on Iran’s al-Alam Arabic-language news channel harms Tehran-Cairo ties. Hosseini also dismissed as “unacceptable” the July 20 attack on the office of al-Alam in Cairo by Egyptian security forces and the confiscation of its equipment. ˈWe expect to see an end to such behaviors as quickly as possible. Egypt is a Muslim state and we are ready to broaden cooperation with this country in all sectors,” the minister stated. Egyptian forces arrested Ahmad al-Soyoufi, who serves as the Cairo bureau chief for the station, on Saturday and refused to provide any explanation for their acts. Egyptˈs military-led authorities have shut down several stations, including one operated by the Muslim Brotherhood, after former president, Mohamed Morsi, was toppled by the army. On July 3, Egyptian security forces raided the offices of al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr news channel, and detained at least five of its staff. Muslim Brotherhood-owned Egypt25 was also forced off the air and its managers were arrested shortly after General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Egyptˈs army chief, announced that Morsi and his government were no longer in office. The authorities also shut down two other stations, al-Hafiz and al-Nas, after Morsi was overthrown./end