Interpreter still detained without charge; fears for his safety
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ letter to Egyptian Interior Minister Habib al-Adly: May 23, 2008 His Excellency Habib al-Adly Interior Minister Al-Sheikh Rihan St. Bab Al-Louk, Al-Tahrir Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt By facsimile: +202 257-92031 Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly protests the continued detention without charge of Mohammed Salah […]
Opposition website blocked for users of government-controlled ISP as country hosts Africa’s largest telecommunications conference
(HRinfo/IFEX) – On 12 May 2008, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information reported that the website of the Egyptian Movement for Change ( http://harakamasria.org ), or Kefaya, has been blocked for those who have Internet access through the T-Data Company. T-Data, the country’s largest Internet service provider, has been under direct government oversight since […]
Facebook activist beaten, threatened for expressing support for strike; authorities suppressing online advocacy
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a 10 May 2008 Human Rights Watch press release: Egypt: Investigate Beating of “Facebook” Activist Authorities Use Intimidation, Violence to Suppress Online Advocacy (Cairo, May 10, 2008) – Egyptian authorities should immediately investigate and prosecute those security officials responsible for beating Ahmed Maher Ibrahim, Human Rights Watch said today. Maher, […]
TV agency boss facing charges over food riots, harassed for links with al-Jazeera
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about legal action against Nader Gohar, owner of the Egyptian TV news agency Cairo News Company (CNC), who was charged on 5 May 2008 with unlicensed broadcasting of food riots in the north of the country on 6 April. On 5 May, the al-Aguza correctional court in […]
Forty members and partners of IFEX urge authorities to overturn four editors’ jail sentences during appeal hearing on World Press Freedom Day
(EOHR/HRinfo/IFEX) – The following is a joint action by 40 IFEX members and partners: Appeal of one-year jail terms given to four Egyptian editors to be heard on World Press Freedom Day We, the undersigned 40 members and partners of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), are concerned with the ongoing court case against […]
Woman detained for promoting general strike on Facebook, released; student briefly detained for urging release of Internet activists
(HRinfo/IFEX) – HRinfo welcomes the 23 April 2008 release of Internet activist Esraa Abdelfattah. Abdelfattah was first detained on 6 April, after she posted a call for a general strike on her Facebook webpage. She was released on 14 April following a decision by prosecutors, but the interior minister then issued a detention order against […]
Raid of satellite communications supplier, confiscation of equipment part of campaign to undermine broadcasters, says HRinfo
(HRinfo/IFEX) – The Egyptian government has initiated a drastic move to thwart satellite channels. It recently raided one of the most important companies offering satellite equipment for rent and confiscated five sets of its broadcasting equipment. This action may have serious consequences on the live broadcasting capacities of several satellite channels such as Al Jazeera, […]
Annual Report 2008: Egypt
Annual Report 2008: Egypt
Military court convicts 25 members of opposition group in “transparently political verdict”, says Human Rights Watch
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Egypt: Military Court Convicts Opposition Leaders Ruling Shows Government Contempt for Democratic Rights (Cairo, April 16, 2008) – A military tribunal’s conviction of 25 leading members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood demonstrates the Egyptian government’s continued determination to crush any organized political opposition, Human […]
Police raid publishing house, seize copies of novel
(HRinfo/IFEX) – On 15 April 2008, a police force led by a colonel raided the Cairo-based Malameh publishing house, which is owned by blogger Muhammad Al Sharkawi, and confiscated copies of a novel entitled “Metro”. The police officers advised one of the Malameh employees that Al Sharkawi and the novel’s author should appear before the […]
US photographer arrested, his interpreter still detained; several bloggers harassed
(RSF/IFEX) – Police arrested US freelance photographer James Buck and his Egyptian interpreter, Mohammed Saleh Ahmed Maree, on 10 April 2008 in Mahalla and took them to the nearest police station, where they were both detained. “After being threatened and intimidated by policemen, we were taken at around 2 a.m. (local time) to see a […]
World Report 2008: Egypt
World Report 2008: Egypt
Dropping of television channel disproves authorities’ claim that media would not suffer under Arab region’s satellite broadcasting charter, says HRinfo
(HRinfo/IFEX) – HRinfo condemns the banning of the Al Hiwar channel on the Nile Sat satellite by the state-owned Nile Sat administration. The channel was banned without any explanation on 1 April 2008. The action coincides with the implementation of the new “Principles for Organizing Satellite Radio and TV Broadcasting in the Arab Region” approved […]
Three satellite television stations’ broadcasts blocked by state-run Nilesat satellite, two allegedly at request of US
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: Egyptian State-Run Satellite Nilesat Blocks Transmission of Alhewar Satellite ARTICLE 19 expresses its concerns regarding the decision taken by the Egyptian state-run satellite “Nilesat,” to stop the transmission of Alhewar TV satellite. On 1 April 2008 Nilesat stopped the transmission of Alhewar TV without […]
Attacks on the Press in 2007: Egypt
Attacks on the Press in 2007: Egypt
Judge dismisses six additional cases against convicted editor; CPJ condemns jail sentence
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 26 March 2008 CPJ press release: Egypt: Leading independent editor sentenced to six months in jail New York, March 26, 2008 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the six-month jail term handed down today to a leading Egyptian editor and urges the appeals court to overturn the conviction. […]