Journalist Ahmed Gamal Ziada released on bail

CAIRO – 2 March 2019: Journalist Ahmed Gamal Ziada has been ordered release on bail after he was apprehended on arrival from Tunisia January 29.

On paying L.E. 10,000 ($571), Ziada will be set free pending investigations into charges drawn against him, accusing him of spreading false news on Facebook.

On January 29, Ziada was stopped by security forces at Cairo International Airport, after he arrived from Tunis, where he was studying journalism; he was expected to return to Tunis after he finishes procedures of his enrollment at the Press Syndicate.

Omraneya prosecution ordered to detain the journalist pending investigations for 15 days, until he was ordered release on bail Saturday.

Earlier, the Press Syndicate announced accepting Ziada’s enrollment as a member.

In December 2013, Ziada was arrested while covering protests erupted at Al-Azhar University. He then faced charges including assaulting police officers and illegal protests. In April 2015, he was acquitted of the charges along other defendants.