Post Hopes for Safe Return of Reporters Detained in Egypt

Two staffers are reportedly being held by the Egyptian Interior Ministry By Harry Jaffe

Comments () | Published February 3, 2011

 Update: Fadel and Davidson have been released, but their assistant and driver remain in custody.The Post is continuing to seek their release.

 As mobs in Cairo attacked journalists from many nations, from Greece to the United States, Post editors got news that two staffers—Cairo Bureau Chief Leila Fadel  and photographer Linda Davidson—were in some kind of custody in Egypt. Post Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli sent this message to the Post newsroom just before noon:

Colleagues, you will have seen that Leila Fadel and Linda Davidson apparently have been detained in Cairo. We have limited information but believe that they, along with some other journalists and representatives of
other international groups, are being held by the Interior Ministry. We've informed the State Department and the Egyptian Embassy, who have promised to seek further information about their status. We're obviously concerned and are staying closely in touch with our other journalists on the ground.

The Post has two more reporters covering the riots in Cairo at the moment: Griff Witte and Will Englund. The Washington Post sends reporters into harm’s way every day to cover wars and violent conflicts. Rarely are they detained or harmed. Its other reporters in world hotspots are: Liz Sly in Baghdad; Josh Partlow and Josh Boak in Afghanistan; and Karin Brullliard in Pakistan. Pam Constable has been covering Middle East conflicts for years.

 

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