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Al Jazeera calls on world powers to save jailed journalist
Rebecca Hawkes | 21 May 2014
Satellite TV network Al Jazeera has warned the health of its Egyptian-born correspondent Abdullah Elshamy is "of the gravest possible concern" and has asked world leaders for help to secure his release from a Cairo jail.
Elshamy, who has been on hunger strike since 21 January 2014 to protest against his detention, which began in August 2013, is reportedly being held in solitary confinement in dire conditions. The authorities are yet to charge him for any crime.
The Qatar-based network has now sought help via a letter to the US Secretary of State John Kerry, the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, British Foreign Secretary William Hague, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and UN human rights chief Navi Pillay.
"Mr Elshamy's situation is of grave concern; his health is deteriorating and the Egyptian authorities show no sign of providing appropriate medical care or of bringing an end to his entirely unwarranted and indefensible detention without charge. Time is of the essence," states the letter, from Cameron Doley, a lawyer acting for Al Jazeera.
Elshamy has acute anaemia, the onset of kidney dysfunction, low blood pressure and hypoglycaemia, and his weight has dropped from 108kg to 68kg, according to Al Jazeera.
The letter comes just days before the Egyptian presidential election on 26 and 27 May, which Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to win.
Rebecca Hawkes | 21 May 2014
Satellite TV network Al Jazeera has warned the health of its Egyptian-born correspondent Abdullah Elshamy is "of the gravest possible concern" and has asked world leaders for help to secure his release from a Cairo jail.
Elshamy, who has been on hunger strike since 21 January 2014 to protest against his detention, which began in August 2013, is reportedly being held in solitary confinement in dire conditions. The authorities are yet to charge him for any crime.
The Qatar-based network has now sought help via a letter to the US Secretary of State John Kerry, the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, British Foreign Secretary William Hague, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and UN human rights chief Navi Pillay.
"Mr Elshamy's situation is of grave concern; his health is deteriorating and the Egyptian authorities show no sign of providing appropriate medical care or of bringing an end to his entirely unwarranted and indefensible detention without charge. Time is of the essence," states the letter, from Cameron Doley, a lawyer acting for Al Jazeera.
Elshamy has acute anaemia, the onset of kidney dysfunction, low blood pressure and hypoglycaemia, and his weight has dropped from 108kg to 68kg, according to Al Jazeera.
The letter comes just days before the Egyptian presidential election on 26 and 27 May, which Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to win.
