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Our Reports
The Internet In the Arab World
A New Space of Repression?
No Rules, No Limits
United Arab Emirates:
Freedom of expression is missing despite a decision banning imprisonment for press crimes
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Cracking down on free press in Egypt
Ibrahim Essa stands before deputy of state security, tomorrow
Cairo, 4th September, 2007
HRINFO condemned today the witch-hunting campaign the Egyptian government and a number of pro- government newspapers launched against Al-Dostur newspaper and its editor in chief " Ibrahim Essa" leading to a fabricated libel and defamation charges and bringing Essa into standing before the deputy of state security tomorrow.
The lack of information and transparency which constitutes the line of conduct the Egyptian government maintains led in one of its series to stir rumors about the truth behind the president's health which many pro-government, independent, opposition and foreign media outlets talked about yet some journalists and government officials used these rumors as a pretext to take down the independent Al-Dostur and its boss Essa who became accused in case no 1042/2007, a fact that predicts the hardship looming ahead as he wasn't summoned by the deputy of publications which is the body with the sole jurisprudence to investigate complaints and claims against journalists.
A new player has joined in the hunt for journalists and the press. The supreme council of journalism- merely a façade- dominated by the ruling party and the government issued a warning against the journalist syndicate calling for - curbing the transgressors- and threatening to take its own appropriate measures against journalists.
"It is quite sad that some journalists work as informants for the government seeking profits at the expense of their colleagues, it's a crime to have a regulatory body which was supposed to protect journalists' right to freedom of expression, instead of squealing on journalists. Shame on this council to do so" said Mr.Gamal Eid, HRINFO executive Director.
"To have an individual or suspect summoned before the deputy of state security casts reasonable doubts on the transparency and integrity of the questioning process. We advice Mr.Essa to ask to appear before a court of justice, yet we shall attend the questioning with him and we shall totally respect his choice" added Mr.Eid.
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