The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by reports in the Egyptian media that authorities have accused Reuters of „spreading false news“ in a report on the death of an Italian student. The press reports could not be verified and Reuters said it had not received notification of legal action.

Press reports citing security officials said that the Legal Affairs Department of the Ministry of Interior filed a criminal complaint with central Cairo‘s Qasr al-Nil police station against Reuters and its Cairo bureau chief, Michael Georgy, accusing them of „spreading false news aimed at disturbing public order,“ and „spreading rumors to harm Egypt‘s reputation.“