Amnesty International condemns raid on journalism NGO in Egypt

Amnesty International has condemned an armed raid by Egyptian security forces on a journalism NGO in Cairo on Wednesday, describing it as a "dangerous escalation in the Egyptian authorities' crackdown on freedom of expression and association".

The Cairo office of Mada foundation for Media Development, a non-profit civil society foundation that provides training for local journalists, was stormed on Wednesday morning by armed and masked security forces, who arrested all staff members present.

This is an unlawful assault and has all the hallmarks of yet another attempt to clamp down on independent journalism in the country - Said Boumedouha

The security forces did not have a search or arrest warrant from the prosecutor's office as required by Egyptian law, Amnesty International said.

"Carrying out an armed raid against an NGO which works to expand the skills of journalists sends a chilling and clear message that independent journalism and activities of civil society will not be tolerated in today's Egypt," said Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme.

"This is an unlawful assault and has all the hallmarks of yet another attempt to clamp down on independent journalism in the country."

"Media professionals and NGO workers should be able to carry out their legitimate work without fear, intimidation or harassment," Boumedouha added.

"The Egyptian authorities must explain why they attacked the NGO and immediately release anyone who is being detained for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association."

According to Amnesty International, security forces stormed the NGO shortly after police in civilian clothes arrived at the offices asking to meet with the head of the organisation, Hisham Gaffar, who was apparently questioned on the premises before being taken away.

Kawthar al-Khouli, the director of one of the foundation's projects, the Nuun Centre for Women and Family Issues, told Aswat Masriya that the raid took place while the foundation was running a training programme for mothers.

The Mada Foundation offers media consultancies and often works on issues related to women and society.

Eventually, all women including trainees and staff, were let go, except for Gaffar's secretary, Khouli said.

The raid was later confirmed in a statement issued by the Giza security directorate to Aswat Masriya, without any mention of why Gaffar was arrested.

The raid is the latest on the Egyptian authorities' track record of arbitrarily raiding NGOs, both under former president Hosni Mubarak's rule and in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution.

NGOs have been attacked several times, with staff arrested and taken to unknown locations where they were ill-treated, as documented by Amnesty International.