Detention of journalists Amr Badr, Mahmoud Sakka extended for 15 days

The detention of journalists Amr Badr and Mahmoud al-Sakka was extended for 15 days pending investigations, according to lawyer Khaled Ali.

Both were arrested on May 1, when security forces stormed the Journalists Syndicate building where they were staging a sit-in. They face charges of inciting protests, attempting to overthrow the government, joining an organization aiming to challenge the constitution and spreading false information to disturb public security.

The raid and arrests instigated a crisis between the Syndicate and the Interior Ministry, with the Syndicate demanding the interior minister’s resignation and an apology from the president.

Lawyers were denied access to the case documents, according to Ali, and both journalists were not permitted to contact their families or lawyers or allowed visitors. Lawyers weren’t informed which prison they were being held in until two days ago.

In a press conference on Wednesday in New York, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Badr and Sakka had been charged with inciting the assassination of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

“I think this is considered criminal activity here in the United States,” he said.

Ali, however, said this is not among the charges leveled against both journalists.

Badr is the chief editor and founder of Yanair news portal, where Sakka is also employed.