Al Jazeera journalist Hisham Abdelaziz has been released by Egyptian authorities after being detained for almost four years, according to the Qatar-based media network. Abdelaziz, who worked as a producer for Al Jazeera’s Mubasher channel, was detained in June 2019 while travelling from Qatar to Egypt to visit family.

He faced charges of “joining an outlawed group” and “publishing false news”, and although he was released in December of the same year, he was later detained again on a separate case. Two other Al Jazeera journalists, Bahauddin Ibrahim and Rabie al-Sheikh, remain in Egyptian custody on similar charges.

ALSO READ: Sudanese family trapped at Egypt border as drivers demand $40,000 for crossing

Egypt has been rated as one of the world’s top jailers of journalists by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, with over 20 journalists currently behind bars. Additionally, rights groups claim that the country has around 60,000 political prisoners, many of whom are detained on charges of “spreading false news”.