Press Release – Toronto / Cairo / The Hague
REDWORD for Human Rights and Freedom of Expression strongly condemns the arrest of Mohamed Bakry, brother of Egyptian journalist Ali Bakry, who resides in the Netherlands. The organization demands his immediate release, disclosure of his whereabouts, and an end to Egypt’s ongoing campaign of transnational repression against exiled journalists and activists.
On August 12, 2025, Egypt’s National Security Agency summoned Mohamed Bakry before raiding the family home and carrying out a violent search. Two days later, prosecutors charged him with “joining a terrorist group.” Although a court ordered his release on August 17 upon bail, security agency hasn’t released him yet, and his fate remains unknown.
Mohamed Bakry, 35, works as a driver, has no political involvement, and has been questioned only about his brother’s journalism and writings. For years, Egyptian security forces have repeatedly raided the Bakry family home, confiscating electronic devices and subjecting the family to intimidation. In July 2025 alone, security forces carried out five raids, two in a single day.
Ali Bakry, a member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Dutch Association of Journalists (NVJ), is known for his work in fact-checking and open-source investigations (OSINT). He has reported on human rights abuses and protests in Egypt, including demonstrations in Alexandria last year where protesters carried signs reading “You starved us, Sisi.”
REDWORD believes the escalation against the Bakry family is part of a wider campaign of intimidation targeting Egyptian journalists and dissidents abroad.
REDWORD calls on the Egyptian authorities to:
- Immediately release Mohamed Bakry and drop all charges against him.
- End harassment of his family.
- Stop all forms of transnational repression against journalists and activists in exile.
The organization further urges the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Dutch Association of Journalists to provide urgent support to Ali Bakry, and calls on the Dutch government to protect exiled Egyptian journalists and activists on its soil from cross-border repression.
