President Mohamed Morsi requested "Al-Dostour" editor Islam Afifi’s release just hours after a court placed him in pre-trial detention.
(RSF/IFEX) – 24 August 2012 – Reporters Without Borders hails yesterday’s decision by President Mohamed Morsi to request “Al-Dostour” editor Islam Afifi’s release just hours after a court placed him in pre-trial detention. Afifi is due to be tried on 16 September on various charges including publishing false information about President Morsi.
The press freedom organization also welcomes an announced presidential decree repealing pre-trial detention for media offences. “Mr. Afifi will be released under this decree,” presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said.
Reporters Without Borders nonetheless continues to be very worried about the overall media freedom situation, especially in the wake of the Shura Council’s appointment of new CEOs and editors to state-owned newspapers on
8 August, which has had a big impact on their editorial policies and has led to articles critical of the Muslim Brotherhood being spiked.
“Respect for the independence of the state-owned media is one of the fundamental guarantees of freedom of information in a country that aspires to be democratic,” Reporters Without Borders reiterated.
