Al-Jazeera Media Network expressed its deep regret and deep sorrow at the departure of the Egyptian journalist Mohamed Mounir, in a hospital in Cairo, yesterday, Monday, due to his infection with the emerging coronavirus, a few days after his release from prison on charges of "spreading false news during an intervention on Al-Jazeera Mubasher channel."
The Al-Jazeera Network said in a statement that it offered its sincere condolences to the family of colleague Muhammad Munir and his colleagues, and reiterated the seriousness of the deteriorating health situation in Egyptian prisons.
It expressed grave concern for the safety of all journalists detained in Egypt, including colleague Mahmoud Hussein, who has been detained for 1,300 days without trial in inhumane conditions of detention, which pose a real threat to his safety, and put his life in grave danger in light of the epidemic spread of the new Corona virus.
"I felt very sad when I received news of the death of journalist colleague Mohamed Mounir, who was released days before imprisonment after he was diagnosed with Corona disease during detention in poor conditions in an Egyptian prison, and we had warned in Previous statements and messages we sent to international bodies and organizations from the poor health conditions in these prisons, which include hundreds of innocent detainees, including our colleague Mahmoud Hussein and other journalists, have no fault except that they sought to convey the truth and news with professionalism and impartiality.
"It is a shame that journalists and media people were arrested in such inhumane conditions. We hold the Egyptian government fully responsible for their safety and health, and we demand it to immediately release Mahmoud Hussein and all unjustly imprisoned journalists," Dr. Swaik added.
The Egyptian authorities arrested the journalist Mohamed Mounir, 65, on June 15th, after his intervention on Al-Jazeera TV directly. During his detention, he suffered from some symptoms and was transferred to the prison hospital, before the State Security Prosecution decided to release him. His health deteriorated later and he launched an appeal on his Facebook page, calling for his transfer to the hospital.
According to the same statement, Al Jazeera Media Network reiterated its appeal to all media professionals and freedom of the press and human rights organizations to stand with Mahmoud Hussein and other journalists imprisoned in Egypt, to show solidarity with them by all available means, and to demand their immediate release.