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A total of 59 journalists are currently behind bars in Egypt, the Egyptian Network for Human Rights said on Tuesday in light of World Press Freedom Day.Ìý

"As the countries of the free world call for more media freedom, the Egyptian authorities continue to crack down on journalists and free speech by detaining and imprisoning dozens and subjecting them to tough circumstances," the organisation said in the statement on Facebook.Ìý

"Even though the Egyptian authorities have over the past days a number of journalists whose pre-trial detention exceeded the legal two-year limit, others are still behind bars, whether detained or had already received up to 10 year-sentences," the organisation added.

Earlier last month, two journalists were detained, pending further investigations into the "terrorism-related" charges against them, and .

Both women had been outspoken critics of the government and the alleged corruption at the headquarters of the Radio and Television Union, the country's state-run broadcaster at Cairo's almost six-decade-oldÌýÌý²ú³Ü¾±±ô»å¾±²Ô²µ.Ìý

Since taking powerÌýin 2014, Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has governedÌýthe country with an iron fist, and is frequently accused by local and international rights groups of overseeingÌý"the worstÌýon human rights, freedom of expression, andÌýin the country's modern history."Ìý Ìý

In 2021, Egypt has beenÌýÌýthe world's third-worst jailer of journalists by theÌýÌýto Protect Journalists, with at least 25 reporters currently locked up.