DUBAI, Aug 03, 2013 (AFP)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the United Arab Emirates on Saturday for the detention of Egyptian journalist Anas Fouda, an editor with the MBC media group that owns Al-Arabiya television.
“We urge the UAE authorities to quickly explain why they arrested Fouda and why they are holding him incommunicado,” a statement said.
“If no charges have been brought against him, he must be released unconditionally at once.”
RSF said security personnel at Dubai international airport told Fouda on June 28 that he was banned from leaving the country. He went to the state security department on July 3 in response to a summons and did not leave.
The Paris-based watchdog said that, before going, Fouda told colleagues he was worried about the outcome.
Fouda’s family has gone public about his detention, and a Facebook page calling for his release has been created.
RSF said Fouda is a senior editor who works with various news media including Al-Arabiya and Al-Aswaq.net and keeps a blog on Egyptian politics.
