(HRinfo/IFEX) – In a procedure that violates press freedom and the right to exchange information, “Al-Ahram” newspaper, the largest press foundation in the Middle East and North Africa, installed a filter to block websites that the newspaper finds unfit for journalists to browse while on the “Al-Ahram” internal network, which serves nearly 15,000 staff members, […]
(HRinfo/IFEX) – In a procedure that violates press freedom and the right to exchange information, “Al-Ahram” newspaper, the largest press foundation in the Middle East and North Africa, installed a filter to block websites that the newspaper finds unfit for journalists to browse while on the “Al-Ahram” internal network, which serves nearly 15,000 staff members, including around 2000 journalists.
Several “Al-Ahram” journalists expressed their concern about this measure, which restricts their ability to browse various websites, in particular blogs affiliated with Google ( http://www.blogger.com ). Journalists also expressed their fear that the newspaper’s blocking of websites will be expanded to include all websites that the “Al-Ahram” administration might consider unsuitable.
“This is a serious and erroneous procedure, especially when it is practiced by a press foundation such as ‘Al-Ahram’. Such an action is in contradiction to the supposed role of the foundation,” Gamal Eid, Executive Director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo), said. “We hope that the foundation will correct this procedure and uphold press freedom and the right of journalists to exchange information,” he added.
