(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on the Egyptian authorities to reverse an 8 February 2005 decision to suspend the new daily “Al-Ghad” (“Tomorrow”, after the newly-formed party of the same name), calling the move “arbitrary”. “We condemn the High Council for the Press’ decision to suspend the newspaper of the first opposition party to be […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on the Egyptian authorities to reverse an 8 February 2005 decision to suspend the new daily “Al-Ghad” (“Tomorrow”, after the newly-formed party of the same name), calling the move “arbitrary”.
“We condemn the High Council for the Press’ decision to suspend the newspaper of the first opposition party to be authorised in the last 20 years,” the organisation said, arguing that the newspaper should not be made to suffer because charges were brought against the party’s president, Ayman Nour. Nour is being detained for allegedly “forging official documents”.
“The decision to suspend the newspaper is directly linked to political considerations and raises doubts about Egypt’s desire to embark on a durable democratic process and establish structures in which the news media are allowed freedom of expression,” RSF said.
The organisation is calling on authorities to either justify their decision to suspend “Al-Ghad” or allow the paper to publish.
Reached by telephone, “Al-Ghad” editor-in-chief Ibrahim Issa told RSF he was not optimistic. “If the authorities initially gave us permission to publish, it’s because they thought we would be under their control, but now that they have seen our editorial line, I don’t think they will again give us permission to publish our newspaper,” Issa said.
The Al-Ghad party received its authorisation to publish the paper on 28 December 2004. The first issue was already set to be printed at the state-owned Al-Ahram printing works when the High Council gave orders to stop the presses because the newspaper had been suspended. Staff at the printing works informed the paper’s management, which has still not received any explanation from the authorities.
The first issue included an article by Nour written from his cell, in which he described the sequence of events since his arrest on 29 January 2005. Other articles called for constitutional amendments and criticised the electoral system.
“Al-Ghad” management has little hope of being allowed to resume publishing even if they are successful in the courts. As a result of a complaint brought by the Agriculture Ministry, the Labour Party’s daily “Al-Shaab” remains suspended despite a 23 December 2004 appeal court decision authorising the paper to resume publishing.
