(EOHR/IFEX) – The following is an 11 October 2006 EOHR press release: The Confiscation of the Book “Modern Sheikhs”: A New Drawback to Freedom of Expression EOHR expresses its deepest worries concerning the decision of the Egyptian Censorship Office to confiscate the book “Modern Sheikhs and the Making of Religious Extremism” by Dr. Mouhamed Fattoh, […]
(EOHR/IFEX) – The following is an 11 October 2006 EOHR press release:
The Confiscation of the Book “Modern Sheikhs”: A New Drawback to Freedom of Expression
EOHR expresses its deepest worries concerning the decision of the Egyptian Censorship Office to confiscate the book “Modern Sheikhs and the Making of Religious Extremism” by Dr. Mouhamed Fattoh, which constitutes a violation to freedom of opinion and expression as stipulated in Articles 47, 48 and 49 of the Egyptian Constitution, which guarantee freedom of opinion and expression in literature, art and culture. This decision also contradicts Article 19 of the ICCPR, which is supposed to be included in Egyptian legislation after being ratified by the Egyptian government.
The Egyptian Censorship Office raided the Madbouly bookstore, publisher of the book “Modern Sheikhs and the Making of Religious Extremism”, and confiscated 280 copies of the book, claiming that the publisher had not acquired a license from the Islamic Research Council (IRC), of Cairo-based Al Azhar University. There was no official court decision calling for the confiscation of the book. The book criticizes the IRC and its censorship of art and literature. The book also tackled the right of women to lead prayers, and the question of the separation of religion and the state.
In this context, EOHR believes that this decision constitutes a breach of freedom of thought, belief and expression. EOHR previously affirmed that the decision to grant the IRC the legal authority to conduct seizures is only an example of the entire framework of legal and administrative restrictions that block the way to freedom of opinion and expression in Egypt.
Egyptian legislation grants the administrative authorities a wide range of powers and authority, such as banning publications and the distribution of printed materials. The Council of Ministries has the right to ban any foreign publication, or any book that may conflict with religion in a way that could disturb public security. Moreover, Law 40/1977 (Political Parties Affairs) grants the right to suspend political parties’ newspapers, which constitutes another restriction to freedom of thought and belief, especially now when we need to open the doors of Ijtihad (personal interpretations of religion) to reform religious ideas and concepts.
EOHR restates its previously announced demands:
– That the Minister of Justice’s decision to grant the IRC inspectors the legal authority to conduct seizures be repealed, as it constitutes a clear violation of the Constitution and international instruments.
– That the Egyptian government respect constitutional provisions on freedom of opinion, expression, thought and belief. Article 49 of the Constitution provides: “The state shall guarantee freedom of scientific research and literary, artistic and cultural invention and provide the necessary means for its realization”. Legislation must be amended to rid it of provisions which violate the right to opinion, thought and belief.
– That religious guardianship of thought, literature and art in Egypt be halted within the context of the recommendations made above. EOHR has repeatedly demanded the lifting of restrictions on freedom of opinion and an end to all forms of censorship of journalism, and of the publication and distribution of creative and artistic works.
