Egypt arrests four Al Jazeera journalists

On Sunday, the Egyptian government arrested four Al Jazeera journalists in Cairo, accusing them of "broadcasting news that threatens internal security and spreading false news" through their contact with and reporting on the Muslim Brotherhood organization.

The Egyptian police have accused Al Jazeera English in Cairo of being a mouthpiece for the Muslim Brotherhood and using their broadcast location at the Marriott hotel as a meeting venue for Muslim Brotherhood members. Last week, the Egyptian government declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization and outlawed Muslim Brotherhood protests and financing.

Al Jazeera Media Network's spokesperson responded to the arrest:

We condemn the arbitrary arrest of Al Jazeera English journalists working in Cairo and demand their immediate and unconditional release.

Al Jazeera Media Network has been subject to harassment by Egyptian security forces which has arrested of our colleagues, confiscated our equipment and raided our offices despite that we are not officially banned from working there.

Al Jazeera identified the arrested journalists as award-winning Nairobi-based correspondent Peter Greste, Al Jazeera English bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy, Cairo-based producer Baher Mohamed, and cameraman Mohamed Fawzy.

[Washington Post] [UPI] [Al Jazeera]