After more than five years in prison, Egyptian photo journalist Mahmoud Abu Zaid has been finally released. Shawkan posted a photo from his own Twitter account on Sunday evening. يا أهلا بالأسفلت … ❤#Shawkan_Is_Free#شوكان_عالاسفلت pic.twitter.com/bZot9HBO7o — Mahmoud Abou Zeid (@ShawkanZeid) March 4, 2019 ”I can’t describe how I feel, I’m free,” he told Reuters Arabic. Shawkan’s release is heavily mandated by strict conditions: he is under police observation and probation for the next five years. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, he is also not allowed to manage his financial properties or assets during those five years. It is expected that Shawkan and his lawyer would appeal the decision in Egypt’s cassation court. “We are relieved to hear that Shawkan is finally free after spending over five years in jail and call on authorities to end their shameful treatment of this photojournalist by removing any conditions to his release,” stated Sherif Mansour, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Middle-East and North Africa Program Coordinator. “The Egyptian government should take steps immediately to improve its image, which has been badly tarnished by this unjust imprisonment–and it can start by releasing…
