Journalist Ariane Lavrier was detained by French police in connection with a 2021 article in which she claimed Egypt used French intelligence services to attack and kill civilians, rights groups condemned her arrest, the BBC reported, News.ro reported.

On Tuesday, the police searched Ariana Lavrieux’s home and then arrested her. Her lawyer stated that the journalist was questioned as part of an investigation into a threat to national security.

Lavrillier was interrogated by officers of the French intelligence service – the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI).

Egypt used French special services to kill smugglers

His 2021 article was based on leaked classified documents and alleged that Egyptian authorities used French intelligence agencies tracking jihadist militants to bomb and kill smugglers on the Egyptian-Libyan border between 2016 and 2018. According to the report, forces that involved French forces “at least 19 bombings of civilians.

The article was published by Disclose, a French investigative journalism site.

Disclose said French authorities under Francois Hollande and Emmanuel Macron were “constantly briefed” by personnel in “several military departments” about the developments, but their concerns were ignored.

At the time of publication, Disclose acknowledged that the report contained national security secrets, but said it was sharing them “in the name of a fundamental principle of democracy: the right to information.”

“The concept of classified information cannot be used to defend a campaign of arbitrary executions against civilians,” Disclose declared. The site also noted that by publishing the article, it knowingly takes the risk of “breaking the law.”

After the publication of the investigation, the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France filed a legal complaint for “violation of national defense secrets.”

“She was arrested for performing official duties”

Amnesty International France condemned the journalist’s arrest. Reporters Without Borders and other human rights organizations also issued statements condemning the arrest.

“We are very concerned,” said Katya Ru of Amnesty. “Detaining a journalist for doing her job, moreover, for divulging information of public interest, can pose a threat to freedom of the press and the confidentiality of sources,” said Kariya Ru.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for the release of Ariane Lavrieux, an end to all criminal investigations against her and said the police should refrain from questioning her about her sources. “Journalists should be able to freely report on matters of defense and national security. Questioning reporters about their confidential sources puts undue pressure on them and can have an intimidating effect on defense reporting,” said CPJ spokesman Attila Mong.