(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the sentence of three and a half years’ imprisonment with hard labour which was pronounced by a court in Cairo on Hussein al-Mataani. al-Mataani was arrested in May 1999 for setting up a journalists’ union without government permission. Convicted of fraud, impersonating a journalist and establishing a union without state […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the sentence of three and a half years’
imprisonment with hard labour which was pronounced by a court in Cairo on
Hussein al-Mataani. al-Mataani was arrested in May 1999 for setting up a
journalists’ union without government permission. Convicted of fraud,
impersonating a journalist and establishing a union without state
authorisation, al-Mataani was also sentenced to pay 501 Egyptian pounds
(US$150) in damages to the government-recognised Journalists’ Syndicate. RSF
is condemning this conviction and recommending that freedom to establish
independent unions be authorised in order to protect press freedom.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
independent unions be authorised in order to protect press freedom
Appeals To
His Excellency Hosni Mubarak
President of the Republic
Abedine Palace
Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt
Fax: +202 260 5417/ 355 5700
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
