The Egyptian Observatory for Journalism and Media issues this report on the developments in the conditions of imprisoned journalists during 2024 and their trials throughout the year. The report aims at providing a detailed presentation and documentation of the cases of journalists who have been arrested, as well as those detained in custody during the report’s coverage period. It also includes a brief presentation of the violations and legal breaches these journalists have faced during their trials. This is based on specific criteria set by the institution, which are outlined in this report. The total number of journalists and media professionals covered in the report is 29, involved in 19 cases.
During the report’s coverage period, the Observatory’s team documented that 10 journalists remained under pretrial detention. Pretrial detention was not the only violation against these journalists and media professionals; some of them were held outside the legal framework for periods ranging from a few days to several months without being presented to the prosecution, in violation of Article 54 of the Egyptian Constitution and Article 124 of the Criminal Procedures Code, which mandate that a person must be brought before the prosecution within 24 hours of arrest. Furthermore, some journalists remained in pretrial detention beyond the maximum period stipulated by the Criminal Procedures Code—exceeding more than a year—in violation of Article 143, which sets the maximum pretrial detention period at eighteen months for felonies and two years if the prescribed penalty for the crime is life imprisonment or the death penalty. This applies to journalists such as Mostafa El-Khatib, Medhat Ramadan, Hamdy El-Zaeem, and Mostafa Saad.
The team also documented the release of 18 journalists by decisions from the Public Prosecution, including the Supreme State Security Prosecution, in 11 cases. Additionally, one journalist remained under precautionary measures, an alternative to pretrial detention.
