Al Jazeera journalist released from detention in Egypt

Egyptian authorities have released Al Jazeera journalist Hisham Abdelaziz after he was held for almost four years in pre-trial detention.

Abdelaziz, an Egyptian journalist for the network’s Mubasher channel, was released early on Monday.

His family confirmed his release and said he was now at his family home in Cairo.

Abdelaziz was arrested in June 2019 after he was stopped while traveling from Qatar, where he was based, to Cairo for a family visit . He was one of a number of Al Jazeera journalists to be detained in Egypt since the 2013 coup that overthrew President Mohamed Morsi.

His detention was repeatedly extended for what Al Jazeera had previously described as “baseless allegations” and led to a deterioration in his health.

Egypt was one of four countries – along with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain – to boycott Qatar, where Al Jazeera is based, in 2017.

Tensions have eased since the boycott ended in 2021. Full diplomatic relations were restored, and Egyptian and Qatari leaders exchanged visits in 2022.

However, two other Al Jazeera Mubasher journalists, Bahaa Eldin Ibrahim and Rabie el-Sheikh, remain in detention in Egypt.

Al Jazeera has repeatedly called for the release of the journalists.