Egyptian authorities have extended the detention of Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein by another 45 days. The extension on Sunday came more than 1,300 days after his arrest upon arrival in Cairo.
Hussein, an Egyptian national working for Al Jazeera Arabic television channel in Qatar, was arrested on December 20, 2016, while on a personal visit to see his family. Hussein was accused of “incitement against state institutions and broadcasting false news with the aim of spreading chaos”, allegations he and the Al Jazeera Media Network deny. The Doha-based network has repeatedly called for Hussein’s release.
In May 2019, an Egyptian court rejected an order by the state prosecutor to release him. Authorities opened a new investigation against him with unspecified charges and returned him to prison.
His incarceration is already in breach of Egypt’s penal code, which sets a maximum pre-trial detention period of 620 days for individuals being investigated for a felony. While in solitary confinement, Hussein suffered a broken arm and has been refused proper medical treatment.
The UN has called on Egypt to end Hussein’s “arbitrary detention”, saying the “appropriate remedy would be to release Mr Hussein immediately”.