Security forces in Egypt have detained a four-person teamĀ of journalistsĀ from Al Jazeera English this week, bringing the number of network staffers behind bars up to six.
The Al Jazeera Media Network announced the detentions this evening, naming those arrested asĀ correspondent Wayne Hay, cameraman Adil Bradlow, producers Russ Finn and Baher Mohammed.
The detention occurred on Tuesday, while the team were covering the post-revolution upheaval in the Egyptian capital, Al Jazeera’s press office said in a statement.
Earlier this month, Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Abdullah al-Shami was arrest during a police and army crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood supporters at Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya square.Ā
Mohamed Badr, a cameraman for the Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr channel, was detained on July 16, and continues to be held without charge.Ā
Lambasting the detentions as part of a campaign against the network, Al Jazeera has called on Egyptian authorities to release their staff unconditionally.
According to the Egyptian newswire MENA,Ā three government ministers have accused Al Jazeera’s Mubashir Misr channel of being responsible for ārumors and claims which are harmful to Egyptian national security and threaten the countryās unity.ā
That channel will be shut down, the ministers said, although Al Jazeera’s main English and Arabic news channels remain on air in Egypt for now.
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Credit: Images courtesy of Al Jazeera