Journalist arrested, another suffers health deterioration in Egypt

By Diana Shalhub

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Egyptian authorities arrested retired journalist Tawfiq Ghanem two weeks ago, according to a statement by his family, while another journalist was transferred to a hospital under deterioration of his health condition.

Ghanem's family said he was arrested despite being retired from journalism six years ago, where he was taken from his home in the 6th of October city, western Cairo, on May 21.

On May 26, he was brought before the State Security Prosecution in the east of Cairo and was "charged with joining a terrorist group and was held in pretrial detention for 15 days pending further investigation."

An Egyptian, Tawfiq Ghanem has worked for over 30 years in the journalism field, where he supervised the "Islam Online" website, also serving as regional director for Anadolu Agency until 2015.

Meanwhile, Egyptian lawyer Huda Abdel-Wahhab said on Thursday that journalist Jamal al-Jamal was transferred to hospital as his health deteriorated under suspicion of being infected with the coronavirus.

The lawyer urged the Egyptian authorities to release him under his health situation.

Al-Jamal was arrested from Cairo airport in February upon his arrival from Turkey with no charge against him so far.

One month ago, the Egyptian authorities released seven journalists who were all in pretrial detention, a move that was welcomed locally and internationally.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara