(RSF/IFEX) – The Sunday (27 December) edition of the London-based Arabic-language newspaper “Al-Hayat” was seized, apparently because it contained an interview with a leading Islamic extremist. Officials at the paper, who insisted on anonymity, confirmed that the Cairo edition had been confiscated but would not say why. In the edition, “Al-Hayat” published a statement from […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The Sunday (27 December) edition of the London-based
Arabic-language newspaper “Al-Hayat” was seized, apparently
because it contained an interview with a leading Islamic
extremist. Officials at the paper, who insisted on anonymity,
confirmed that the Cairo edition had been confiscated but would
not say why. In the edition, “Al-Hayat” published a statement
from the London-based Islamic Observation Centre that carried a
telephone interview with a leader of Al-Gamaa al-Islamiya. This
group claimed responsibility for last month’s attack in Luxor
that took the lives of 58 tourists and four Egyptians.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Hayat” an arbitrary censorship measure
“Al-Hayat” lifted
Appeals To
His Excellency Mohammad Hosni Mubarak
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Oruba Palace
Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: +202 260 5417 / 355 5700General Hassan al-Alfy
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
Al-Sheikh Rihan Street
Bab al-Louk, Cairo
Egypt
Fax: +202 355 7792Ms Nayla Gabr
The Human Rights Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Corniche al-Nil, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: +202 574 9808
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
