In May and June 2010, editor Ibrahim Eissa published articles about the legal pursuit of Kuwaiti journalists and the prime minister's failure to prevent this.
(ANHRI/IFEX) – Cairo, 27 July 2010 – The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) reports that the Kuwaiti prime minister, Nasser AlAhmad AlSabah, has filed a complaint against Ibrahim Eissa, editor of the “AlDostor” Egyptian daily, and Mohammed Alweshaihi, a Kuwaiti journalist, accusing them of insult and libel. “AlDostor” recently reported on the legal complaints filed against Kuwaiti journalist Mohamed AlJassim, and accused the Kuwaiti PM of being behind them.
In May and June 2010, Eissa published a series of articles on this issue as well as an article by Alweshaihi on the legal pursuit of Kuwaiti journalists and the failing political performance of the PM. Alweshaihi also referred to the deporting of certain Egyptians. Through his lawyers in Cairo, Prime Minister AlAhmad AlSabah filed a communiqué with the Egyptian prosecution accusing Eissa of insult and libel. Investigations were started immediately.
Eissa has received the Arab Journalism Award, given in the memory of Jibran Twaini’s assassination in 2008, because of his courage, professionalism and respect for freedom of the press. “AlDostor” has been the only Egyptian paper among a few Arabic papers that support Kuwaiti journalists in the crackdown of their prime minister against them.
ANHRI said, “The Kuwaiti prime minister not only prosecuted journalists and attempted to silence their criticism in Kuwait, but tried to follow the same method against an Egyptian journalist, Ibrahim Eissa. These journalists’ stance in defense of press freedom and the freedoms of their colleagues is appreciated anywhere in the world, not only in the Arab world.”
ANHRI added, “Once more, we assert that any citizen, regardless of their position, whether being from a ruling family or not, is liable to criticism, and harsh criticism as long as they serve as a public servant. They should step down if they can not tolerate criticism, instead of trying to silence journalists. Should journalists abandon their duty of seeking the truth and start to appease the authorities, they will lose credibility and stop being seen as acting in service to the public.”
