Call for withdrawal of charges against newspaper reporter targeted by police vendetta

Reporters Without Borders calls for the withdrawal of charges against reporter Kamal Murad of the weekly newspaper Al-Fajr. After being physically attacked on 17 June by police in Rahmanya, in the Delta region, he is now being prosecuted on the basis of allegations brought against him by the police. Murad is well known for covering the torture and sexual abuse of a detainee by a policeman in 2006. “We firmly condemn the use of violence against Murad,” the press freedom organisation said. “It is unacceptable that the police are persecuting him. The charges brought against him appear to be an act of revenge. The authorities must punish those responsible for these abuses against the press.” Murad, 28, was arrested in Rahmanya on 17 June while using his mobile phone to take photos of police beating peasants. The police had been called out by a landlord who was trying to force the peasants to sign leases. Murad said the police manhandled him and beat him after discovering who he was. He was held for two days and was then charged with assuming a false identity, assaulting the police, inciting violence and defamation. He faces between six months and three years in prison on the charges. Meanwhile, he has not been able to recover his mobile, SIM card or notes. Murad told Reporters Without Borders he is the victim of a police plot. He said the public prosecutor's office charged him on the basis of false statements presented by Rahmanya's police chief. He said he was astonished by the speed with which prosecutors took up the case. No action has been taken on the complaint which he filed against the police officers who beat him. Murad's November 2006 coverage of the case a bus driver who was subjected to sexual abuse while in police custody had a big impact in Egypt. The policeman responsible ended up being sentenced to three years in prison.