Egyptian prosecutors released prominent journalist Rasha Qandil on bail on Sunday following an interrogation over allegations of “broadcasting false information,” her lawyer confirmed.
Qandil, formerly a presenter for BBC Arabic, was freed after paying bail amounting to 50,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately 880 euros).
Her lawyer, Nabeh el-Ganadi, told AFP that the prosecution accused her of spreading false information both inside and outside Egypt.
These accusations stemmed from public complaints about her social media activity, a report from national security officials, and an analysis of her online posts, Ganadi explained.
Qandil voluntarily attended the prosecutor’s office for questioning and is now awaiting a decision on whether formal charges will be brought or the case dropped.
She is married to opposition politician and former presidential candidate Ahmed al-Tantawi, who has been imprisoned for a year over alleged irregularities in his campaign accounts from the December 2023 presidential election.
Tantawi faced questioning last month on two other cases, including accusations of “incitement to commit a terrorist act,” according to his lawyer Khaled Ali.
He is expected to complete his prison sentence this month and may be released on Monday, depending on the outcome of ongoing investigations, Ali added.
Since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s administration took power in 2014, it has faced ongoing criticism over its human rights record.
While hundreds of political prisoners have been released since 2022, human rights organisations claim that many more remain detained.