German court could overrule Egypt’s military regime and release detained Al-Jazeera journalist

Ahmed Mansour has been detained at an airport in Berlin

Ahmed Mansour (AP)

Lawyers representing an Al-Jazeera journalist detained in Germany say a Berlin court will today test the validity of his arrest warrant.

Ahmed Mansour has been detained in Europe for two days under an international arrest warrant issued by the Egyptian government.

Lawyer Fazli Altin told the AP news agency that the court will meet on Monday and that there is a chance that Mr Mansour could be released this afternoon.

Mr Mansour was detained at Berlin Tegel airport on Saturday as he tried to board a Qatar airways flight to Doha, where Al Jazeera’s Arabic service is based.

The well-known journalist has been convicted in absentia in Egypt on charges widely described by his lawyers and free press groups as politically motivated.

Mr Mansour’s lawyer said was “embarrassing for Germany that [Mr Mansour] is being held on these clearly political allegations”.

Meanwhile Reporters Without Borders argued that his arrest was part of “Egypt’s terrible revenge against journalists that cross the regime”.

The Egyptian government is currently a military regime led by General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi; since coming to power Mr Sisi has been criticised for suppressing opposition voices.

Mr Mansour’s employers, the news agency Al-Jazeera, has called for his immediate release. The news agency is owned by the Qatari royal family, with which the Sisi regime has developed a political rift.

Egyptian courts sentenced three Al Jazeera journalists to seven years in prison last year.

Additional reporting by AP