PARIS: In a significant turn of events, French journalist Ariane Lavrilleux has been released from the custody Thursday, after a two-day detention that sent shockwaves through the media and human rights communities.
Her arrest had come in the wake of her reporting on leaked documents that alleged French intelligence involvement in the targeting of civilians in Egypt.
The controversy began when investigative website Disclose published a series of articles in November 2021 based on a trove of secret documents. These documents purportedly revealed how information gathered by a French counter-intelligence operation in Egypt, codenamed “Sirli,” had been used by the Egyptian state in what was described as “a campaign of arbitrary killings” targeting smugglers operating along the Libyan border.
The documents not only shed light on the alleged complicity but also indicated that there were warnings from officials within the French government regarding the operation. However, these concerns did not lead to the operation being called into question, as Disclose reported.
France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces reacted swiftly, filing a complaint for “violation of national defence secrecy” in response to the publication of the articles. In July 2022, a case was opened by the Paris prosecutor’s office, subsequently placed in the hands of the DGSI, France’s domestic intelligence agency.
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Lavrilleux’s arrest took place following a search of her home and subsequent questioning by agents of DGSI, France’s domestic intelligence agency. This move was met with widespread condemnation, as it was seen as a threat to the fundamental principle of protecting journalistic sources. The Society of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) swiftly voiced their concerns, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the confidentiality of sources.
Amnesty International’s secretary general, Agnes Callamard, expressed deep concern over the situation, highlighting the irony that the journalist who exposed alleged complicity in extrajudicial executions was being targeted instead of those responsible.
Journalists rallied outside the police headquarters during Lavrilleux’s detention, demonstrating their solidarity with her and the principles of press freedom.
A jubilant Lavrilleux took to social media to announce her release, accompanied by the hashtag #JournalismisNotaCrime, reaffirming the vital role of journalism in holding power to account.
Virginie Marquet, the lawyer representing Lavrilleux and Disclose, confirmed her release without any charges at this stage. Meanwhile, another individual, a former member of the military detained on the same day as Lavrilleux, is set to appear before a magistrate for further prosecution.
The initial articles published by Disclose had alleged French forces’ complicity in a series of bombings against smugglers in the region between 2016 and 2018, raising questions about France’s role in the region’s conflicts.
