(EOHR/IFEX) – EOHR is deeply concerned over the arrest of two Al-Jazeera television station cameramen. They were arrested on 5 March 2002 at 3:30 p.m. (local time) outside the Alexandria University fence, after recording a peaceful demonstration held by Alexandria University students against Israel’s policies in the occupied territory. Cameraman Mohamed Ezz El deen El […]
(EOHR/IFEX) – EOHR is deeply concerned over the arrest of two Al-Jazeera television station cameramen. They were arrested on 5 March 2002 at 3:30 p.m. (local time) outside the Alexandria University fence, after recording a peaceful demonstration held by Alexandria University students against Israel’s policies in the occupied territory.
Cameraman Mohamed Ezz El deen El Nagar, 30 years old, and voice recorder Mohamed Eid Galal, 29 years old, were arrested by State Security Investigation officers in Alexandria after recording the students’ demonstration. They were detained for one night and appeared before the prosecution in Bab Shark at 11:00 a.m. on 6 March. After interrogating them for seven hours, the prosecution set them free. Their camera and tapes, which had been confiscated by the security officers, were returned to them.
EOHR is deeply worried over the Al-Jazeera cameramen’s arrest and calls on the authorities to provide protection for journalists when they are exercising their profession, in accordance with the Egyptian constitution and international covenants. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stipulates that, “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice”. This article has been incorporated into the country’s law under Article 151 of the Egyptian constitution.
