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October 28, 2025 – Egypt –
On 24 September, the Egyptian freelance investigative journalist and social science researcher Ismail Alexandrani (alternatively spelled Al-Iskandarani) was apprehended by state security agents while passing through a checkpoint between Marsa Matruh and Cairo, and immediately taken blindfolded—a detail his lawyer interprets as evidence that his prior reporting on the Sinai region was targeted. He is currently being held in pre-trial detention at the Tenth of Ramadan Prison, on the outskirts of Cairo.
Prosecutors charged Alexandrani with allegedly “spreading false news,” “belonging to a terrorist organization,” and operating a website to incite terrorist activities—despite the absence of publicly disclosed credible evidence. His provisional detention was extended on 19 October for another 15 days as he awaits his next hearing on 2 November, which could result in further extensions.
The organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the arrest as arbitrary, pointing to Alexandrani’s previous imprisonment between 2015 and 2022, when he served more than seven years after being convicted on similar politically-charged charges by a military court. That prior detention included charges of “disclosing state secrets,” “spreading false news,” and “membership of a banned group.”
Alexandrani’s journalistic record includes contributions to outlets such as Mada Masr, the now-defunct Lebanese daily As‑Safir, Al Jazeera English, and French publications like Le Monde Diplomatique. His expertise on Egypt’s Sinai region, particularly border and security dynamics, appears to be a catalyst for the renewed charges and detention. RSF emphasizes that his detention penalizes legitimate journalistic and research activity rather than any verifiable criminal conduct.
By detaining Alexandrani again, Egypt is further eroding press freedom. The country currently ranks 170th out of 180 in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index—a reflection of the deteriorating environment for journalists. RSF calls for his immediate release and underscores that prolonged pre-trial detention without credible, transparent evidence constitutes a serious breach of media freedom standards.
Reference –
https://rsf.org/en/egyptian-journalist-ismail-alexandrani-held-past-month-one-month-too-many
