The Egyptian authorities have released a television presenter who is on trial for incitement to kill the President and had been arrested on separate charges.
Tawfiq Okasha was arrested on Sunday for convictions passed in absentia when he visited a police station to look into the status of his court case, which began on September 1.
The TV-presenter was arrested on charges related to two six-month convictions for issuing bad cheques and a one-month sentence for stealing electricity. He spent nine hours in custody and was then released.
Okasha is the head of Al Faraeen channel which was suspended on August 16 after broadcasting a programme which was deemed highly critical of the Muslim Brotherhood government.
During his trial, Okasha has denied calling for the murder of the country’s president.
He told judges: “I merely criticised President Morsi. This is a political trial. The Muslim Brotherhood wants to silence all dissent and reproduce the system from before the revolution."
The next session of his trial has been set for Wednesday.
Okasha’s case began at the same time as another against Islam Afifi, the editor of a small independent newspaper, Al Dustour, who faced allegations of spreading incorrect news and inciting disorder.
Afifi, who was released last month, was the first journalist to go on trial since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in February last year.
Concerns about control of Egyptian media
Since the Muslim Brotherhood came to power, concerns have been raised over their attempts to exert control over the media in Egypt.
Following his inauguration in June, Morsi has instructed the upper house of parliament to appoint new editors-in-chief for state media outlets, many of which had been hostile towards the Muslim Brotherhood prior to his election.
Local journalists have spoken out against the restriction of media freedom, and international watchdogs and officials have also highlighted the issue.
Reporters Without Borders has highlighted the importance of maintaining a free and independent media in Egypt, which is ranked 160th of 179 countries in its World Press Freedom Index.
