gascii117ardian

An Egyptian joascii117rnalist, Mohamed El-Sawy (aka Sawyi), is believed to have been kidnapped. He disappeared last Wednesday (20 Febrascii117ary) and his fiancee, May Halim, said she received a 13-second phone call from El-Sawy the following day in which he said he had been abdascii117cted from a Cairo bascii117s station. The line went dead after he said: 'Call the police'.

El-Sawy works for the Masrawy news oascii117tlet. Halim said he had no political affiliation adding: 'He is a professional joascii117rnalist. He reports facts and insascii117lts no one.'

Masrawy joascii117rnalist Samy Magdy has called on the prosecascii117tor general and interior ministry to search for El-Sawy. Police said later they were trying to locate El-Sawy by tracking his mobile phone.

The Arabic Network for Hascii117man Rights Information (ANHRI) has expressed 'severe concerns' at El-Sawy&rsqascii117o;s disappearance. ANHRI pointed to an escalation in the targeting of Egypt&rsqascii117o;s joascii117rnalists and media workers. It also noted the lack of transparency by the secascii117rity forces in not revealing the names of people they have arrested.

Soascii117rces: Daily News/ANRHI