CAIRO: Egypt’s Ministry of Interior filed a legal complaint Saturday against Editor-in-Chief of Youm7 Khaled Salah and reporter Sayeed Falah over charges of “publishing false news,” Youm7 reported.
They are accused of “disturbing the public security” following publishing a story claims that one of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s motorcade has been attacked by unidentified assailants during its way back to Cairo from Sharm el-sheikh Wednesday where a tripartite economic Summit was held.
However, the newspaper published a denial based on a presidential statement Thursday saying that the circulated news, which was available on some media outlets, is “groundless.”
Salah and Falah are being investigated on the abovementioned accusations.
In a statement, the newspaper said it has been “shocked” on the Interior Ministry’s reaction as it published a correction to the news after the presidency denied.
“Al-Youm al-Sabei (Youm7) is surprised at the legal complaint which represents escalation in the ministry’s policy to pursue journalists under the pretext of disturbing the peace and public security”
The newspaper added that the Ministry has broadened the use of such charge “which contradicts with what the Egyptian press is doing to protect public security against terrorism.”