Parents of Al Jazeera journalist detained in Egypt appeal for his release Employees of the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network have come under intense pressure from Egypt's interim authorities since former president Mohamed Morsi's summer ouster. The network's Egyptian outlet is one of the few remaining channels perceived as sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, now a designated terrorist organisation. Lois Greste, Peter's mother, said his detention in Cairo's notorious Tora prison has been "shattering to the whole family." In 2013, Egypt was among the most prolific jailers of journalists in the world, according to a recent survey by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Although press freedom temporarily increased following Hosni Mubarak's downfall in 2011, it grew increasingly tenuous during Mr Morsi's year in office. The treatment of Al Jazeera's journalists has prompted an outcry among international media outlets. Representatives from over 30 news organisations, including The Telegraph, have signed a statement expressing concern that the arrests have "cast a cloud over press and media freedom in Egypt." "We strongly believe that upholding the rights of journalists and permitting the free flow of information is vital to bringing about greater understanding and serves the best interests of all Egyptians and the world," it reads.