The publisher of the New York Times, A.G. Sulzberger, published an important article today about press freedom. He mentioned an incident in which I had to leave Egypt in a rush, fearing arrest, two years ago. Some context on that:
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The incident occurred in August 2017 after published my story about Giulio Regeni, an Italian student found dead in Cairo. Italy accuses Egypt of involvement, and Egypt denies. It's a sensitive issue.
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Hours after the Regeni story went online, international editor called with a warning from an American official that I faced imminent arrest. He advised me to get out immediately. I called the U.S. embassy, where a press officer directed me to the Irish embassy.
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The Irish ambassador sent a diplomat to my apartment who arrived in an hour. (I am an Irish citizen.) The diplomat drove to Cairo airport where I took the first available flight to Europe. Weeks later, I returned to Egypt unhindered and resumed work.
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I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t received that timely warning. Possibly nothing, and possibly a major problem. The workings of Egypt’s security apparatus are notoriously opaque under Mr. el-Sisi, even to Egypt experts.
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Since then the buro in Cairo, like others, has faced difficulties in Egypt with government accreditation, legal threats, and attacks in the local press. A reporter for the Times of London was expelled last year. My colleague @ddknyt was barred from entry in February.
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But the authorities recently renewed my press card, as well as that of other foreign reporters, which hopefully is a sign of positive change.
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Such troubles pale beside Egyptian journalists who have been imprisoned, exiled or killed. The Committee to Protest Journalists says Egypt is among the world’s worst jailers of journalists, alongside Turkey and China. Three were arrested just yesterday.
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Another example: Six months after the Regeni incident, the authorities raided the offices of Egyptian website called Masr al Arabia for publishing an Arabic translation of our story about vote-rigging in the presidential election:
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The website’s editor, Adel Sabry, was prosecuted and sent to Qanatir Prison outside Cairo. He now faces charges of spreading false news and joining a terrorist organization. His detention was renewed last week.
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The Regeni murder remains unsolved. President Sisi and Italian PM Giuseppe Conti discussed it in New York yesterday. They say they are still investigating.
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Lastly, I owe a belated thanks an Irish diplomat who rushed to help in a tight spot. He was cool, swift and fearless. And to someone in Washington who took a risk to reach out.
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