Egyptian prosecutors have renewed for 15 days the detention of two journalists arrested from inside the Journalists Syndicate headquarters earlier in May, pending investigation into charges of inciting anti-government protests.
Journalists Amr Badr and Mahmoud al-Sakka,were arrested after security forces raided the syndicate’s Cairo headquarters on May 1, in a move the press syndicate described at the time as “unprecedented”.
According to lawyer Doaa Mostafa, the prosecution presented the two journalists with new charges related to posts on social-media networks including Facebook and Twitter, as well as articles published in the press.
The two journalists were originally accused of inciting protests, attempting to overthrow the regime and broadcasting false news with the aim of disturbing public peace.
Following the raid on the press syndicate's building, it demanded a presidential apology and the sacking of Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar.
However, the Interior Ministry denied storming the building or using force to arrest the two journalists. The journalists handed themselves over to police peacefully and the arrests were conducted in a manner consistent with the law, the ministry said in a statement at the time.
Egypt's top prosecutor ordered media gag on the case until the investigation is complete.
