Mohamed Monir, 65, had been arrested in mid-June and charged with "membership of a terrorist group, dissemination of false news and improper use of social networks". Monir was suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and serious heart problems, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, citing Egyptian journalists who asked to remain anonymous. The US-based group said it was "extremely disturbed" by his death following his release from Cairo's Tora Prison. In May, the CPJ documented the arrests of at least four Egyptian journalists, including Sameh Haneen, a Coptic Christian who also faces charges of joining a terrorist organisation. The group ranks Egypt as the third biggest jailer of journalists in the world, behind China and Turkey.

Source: Daily Nation July 14, 2020 09:33 UTC