25/11/2019 (Agence Europe) – The spokeswoman of the European External Action Service denounced, on Sunday 24 November, the search by Egyptian security forces earlier today of the independent news outlet Mada Masr. This newspaper investigates corruption and security issues in particular. Four journalists were detained for several hours without being able to communicate or have access to a lawyer before being released. “Ongoing restrictions on civil liberties, including restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly and the erosion of media freedom, in Egypt are causes for concern”, the spokesperson said in a statement. She recalled that the presence of independent and diverse media is essential for the proper functioning of a democracy and that journalists should be able to carry out their work without fear of harassment, in accordance with the Egyptian Constitution and Egypt’s international obligations. (CG)