United Nations Calls For Action Over Detained Al Jazeera Journalists

The United Nations is criticizing the recent spate of attacks and harassment against journalists in Egypt.

The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the "increasingly severe clampdown and physical attacks" are making it extremely difficult for journalists to do their jobs and tell their stories. The statement called attention to three reporters in particular, Al Jazeera's Peter Greste, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, who have been detained in Egypt for more than a month, Al Jazeera said. "In recent months, there have been numerous reports of harassment, detention and prosecution of national and international journalists as well as violent attacks," a UN spokesperson said. "This accentuates the difficult and increasingly dangerous environment for journalists trying to carry out their work in the country."