Jailed photojournalist regains freedom after 5 years

photojournalist

Egyptian photojournalist, Mahmoud Abu Zeid, known as Shawkan, has been released from prison after over five years.

A picture of him on the street was posted on his Twitter account, saying he was free.

Mr Shawkan had been in jail since August 14, 2013 when he was arrested while covering a demonstration in Cairo by supporters of deposed Islamist President, Mohammed Morsi.

The photojournalist was accused of being part of the outlawed group, Muslim Brotherhood.

Shawkan was sentenced to five years in prison. However, observers have been expecting his release after he had already served over five years in pre-trial detention.

The photojournalist won the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize in April 2018.

He was awarded the International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in 2016.