Egypt: Security forces raid Anadolu Agency office in Cairo January 14-15 /update 6

Event

Egyptian security forces raided an Anadolu Agency office in Cairo overnight (local time) from Tuesday, January 14, into Wednesday, January 15, confiscating employees' passports, phones, and computers, and detaining and taking four employees to an undisclosed location. Turkey's Foreign Ministry condemned the act, claiming it constituted an "act of violence" against the state-run media outlet.

Similar incidents targeting media organizations are possible in Egypt over the near term.

Context

Several protests have taken place in Egypt since September 20, 2019, calling for President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's resignation over corruption allegations following a call for demonstrations by Mohamed Ali, currently in exile in Spain. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Cairo, Alexandria, Damietta, Matareya, and Suez. On September 21 and 22, demonstrators clashed with security forces in Suez, with police attempting to disperse crowds with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition. According to local NGOs, at least 1900 people, including protesters, journalists, and political activists have been arrested in several Egyptian cities since the demonstrations began on September 20.

Advice

Individuals in Egypt are advised to monitor developments to the situation, refrain from discussing contentious political topics in public or on the Internet, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.