German authorities release detained Al Jazeera journalist
After being held by Germany for two days under an Egyptian arrest warrant, Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Mansour, 52, is now free, according to a spokesman from the Berlin prosecutor's office.
Mansour was detained as he tried to board a plane from Berlin to Qatar; last year, Mansour was sentenced to 15 years in prison in absentia on torture charges. A police spokesman said earlier this week the Egyptian-issued arrest warrant accused Mansour, who has dual British and Egyptian citizenship, of "several crimes," but it did not elaborate on any specific charges. Al Jazeera maintains the claims are false.
Saad Djebbar, one of Mansour's lawyers, told Al Jazeera that while Mansour was happy with the court's decision, he was upset that the journalist was detained in the first place. In a video recorded earlier this week, Mansour said the charges were a "misunderstanding."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Pros and cons of oat milk
Pros and cons Oat has emerged as the king of Britain's plant-based milks, but how does it stack up against the alternatives?
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
What happens if TikTok is banned?
Today's Big Question Many are fearful that TikTok's demise could decimate the content creator community
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The unparalleled leader of the gentle parenting movement
In the Spotlight Dr. Becky became the face of a revolution in how we treat our children
By David Faris Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published