Egypt

(CPJ/IFEX) – On 30 May 1998, “Cairo Times” publisher Hisham Kassem was informed by his printer, Sahara Printing House, that his magazine could no longer be printed in Egypt by order of the General Authority for Free Zones and Investment (GAFI). Like several other publications, the English-language “Cairo Times” has been printing in the free […]

(EOHR/IFEX) – The full text of an EOHR press release, made available on 1 June 1998, follows: 21 May 1998: The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) received with deep concern and distress the ruling passed by the Abdeen Court of Appeals for Misdemeanors on 20 May 1998, ordering the imprisonment of journalist Amr Abdel-Hadi […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – On 13 May 1998, ARTICLE 19 released the following statement regarding Egypt’s use of their Penal Code against journalists: **Updates IFEX alert of 20 April 1998** ARTICLE 19, the International Centre Against Censorship, is greatly concerned by the Egyptian government’s renewed use of over-broad provisions in the Penal Code to bring prosecutions […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is the full text of a letter sent by Article 19 to President H.E. Hosni Mubarak on 17 April 1998: ARTICLE 19, the International Centre Against Censorship, is greatly concerned about your government’s renewed use of over-broad provisions in the Penal Code to bring prosecutions against journalists, editors and proprietors […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is profoundly concerned about several serious developments over the past two months which have contributed to a further deterioration of press freedom in Egypt. CPJ wrote to His Excellency Muhammad Hosni Mubarak on 25 February 1998, protesting the one-year prison sentences handed down against journalists Magdy Hussein and Muhammad Hilel of the […]

(EOHR/IFEX) – On 19 March 1998 the Censorship on Foreign Publications Department of the Ministry of Information confiscated the 19 March issue (# 2, volume II) of “Cairo Times” which had been issued on 17 February 1998, reports EOHR. The “Cairo Times” is a bi-monthly news-magazine which is printed in English and obtained its license […]

**Updates IFEX alert of 2 March 1998** (RSF/IFEX) – According to RSF, on 21 March 1998, Egyptian police apprehended the journalist Gamal Fahmy Hussein (spelled Gamal Fahmi in alert of 2 March 1998). Fahmy was taken in front of “the home of one of his close relatives despite the fact that he had indicated to […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – Egyptian authorities have enforced the prison sentences handed down last month against Magdy Hussein, editor-in-chief of “Al-Sha’b” and Muhammad Hilel, a reporter for the paper. On 24 February 1998, both men were convicted on appeal of allegedly libeling Alaa al-Alfi, son of former Interior Minister Hassan al-Alfi. Each was given a one year […]

(EOHR/IFEX) – The head of the Publications Censorship Department at the Ministry of Mass Communication has cancelled “Al-Dostour”‘s printing and distribution license . This decision, which was implemented on 26 February 1998, coincided with the paper’s publication on 25 February of an article entitled “Terrorist groups threaten to assassinate the three most prominent Coptic businessmen […]

(EOHR/IFEX) – EOHR is deeply concerned by news of the ruling issued by the Boulaq Court of Appeals for Misdemeanors on 24 February 1998, against journalist Magdi Ahmed Hussein, editor-in-chief of opposition newspaper “Al-Shaab”, and Mohammed Hilal, journalist for the same newspaper. The journalists were accused of two misdemeanors suits of libel and slander by […]

(EOHR/IFEX) – According to reports, on Wednesday 14 January 1998, the artistic production police confiscated two books by lawyer Khalil Abdel-Kareem. The books in question are “The Yathrib Society” (Yathrib is the old name of the town of Medina, in Saudi Arabia) and “The Rababa songs on the Companions of Prophet Mohammed.” The two books […]

(RSF/IFEX) – The Sunday (27 December) edition of the London-based Arabic-language newspaper “Al-Hayat” was seized, apparently because it contained an interview with a leading Islamic extremist. Officials at the paper, who insisted on anonymity, confirmed that the Cairo edition had been confiscated but would not say why. In the edition, “Al-Hayat” published a statement from […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The Egyptian court of first instance, on 10 September 1997, decided to ban the publication of three issues of the bi-weekly newspaper “Al-Sha’b” as a result of its coverage of a pending libel suit initiated by Interior Minister Hassanal-Alfi against “Al-Sha’b” editor-in-chief Magdi Hussein and four journalists from the newspaper. The move followed […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – On 3 August 1997, Ala’a Hamed (also reported as Allaa Hamed and Alaa Hamed) and his lawyers appeared before the Cairo Appeal Court to petition judges to suspend Hamed’s one-year prison sentence until the Court of Cassation issues a final ruling on the case. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 15 August, 25 July, 25 […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 15 September 1997, RSF expressed concern at the very heavy penalties imposed on five members of the editorial staff of the Saudi daily “Asharq Al-Awsat”. According to RSF’s information, on 14 September, the Cairo criminal court sentenced owners Hisham and Mohammad Ali Hafez, and editor-in-chief Osmane al-Amir (three Saudis), along with two […]

On 23 October 1996, the 20-26 October 1996 edition of the English-language newspaper the “Middle East Times” was banned from distribution by the censorship office. Every week before the newspaper is printed, the editorial staff has to submit all the articles to officials of the Information Ministry. The 20-26 October edition contained a report giving […]