DNE: National Council for Human Rights condemns conviction of newspaper editors
National Council for Human Rights condemns conviction of newspaper editors
By Liam Stack
First Published: September 20, 2007
CAIRO: The National Council for Human Rights expressed its “distress” this week over the convictions of four newspaper editors on charges of insulting President Hosni Mubarak, his son and the ruling party, and called for the President to fulfill promises made in his 2005 electoral campaign to overturn laws that curtail freedom of expression.
In a statement released to the media, the Council, which is backed by the government, urged President Mubarak to “re-examine laws pertaining to freedom of expression” and to “draft new legislation to allow the free flow and exchange of information.”
It urged the President to consider the “gravity of the negative political impact of these provisions on the freedom of press and expression to the entire process of democratic reform.”
The convictions have landed the editors of some of the country’s most popular independent newspapers in serious legal trouble, and each face steep fines of LE 20,000. The four were Adel Hammouda, of Al-Fajr weekly, Ibrahim Eissa, editor of Al-Dostour daily, Wael Al-Ibrashy, editor of Sout Al-Omah weekly, and Abd Al-Halim Kandil, ex-editor of Al-Karama newspaper.
Lawyers of the four men say they will appeal the convictions, and that they are being punished not for insulting the regime but for airing fair criticisms of the government.
Under a deal reached with the court, the men paid LE 10,000 in bail but will not have to begin their incarceration until the appeals process is complete.
This conviction is separate from another case currently pending against Eissa, who has described the regime as “archaic” and “fascist.” He will be tried in October for spreading what the state calls false information about the president’s health.
In its statement the National Council says that the state must foster “the right environment for independent journalism that will play a positive role in paving the path of democracy.”
Independent observers say that the convictions must be seen as part of the larger crack down on civil society and opposition groups, which has resulted in the arrest of hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood and the forcible closure of active civil rights groups like the Center for Trade Union and Worker Services and the Association for Human Rights and Legal Aid.
Indeed, some say, rather than a detour on the road to reform, the crack down is an indication of the state’s hostility to the path of democracy.
“This is a clear indication that we are seeing the end of the relative openness that began in 2005,” says Hossam Bahgat, the Director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.
In light of the case, rights groups on Saturday accused Egypt of curbing press freedom.
Human Rights Watch called on the government to repeal laws that allow authorities to "imprison writers and editors solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression."
Amnesty International called for a review of the press law passed in July 2006 in which publishing offences, such as insulting public officials, carry prison sentences.
"Press freedom does not exist in a country where the state can put you in prison simply for criticizing the president," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
"This ruling and the new charges against (Eissa) are incompatible with Egypt's constitution and its commitments under international human rights law, not to mention Egypt's current membership on the UN Human Rights Council," she said.
In comments to the weekly Al-Osboa paper published Saturday, Mubarak defended Egypt's press laws and insisted he was an advocate of press freedom, but within limits.
"I am not against criticism... but there is a difference between constructive criticism which seeks to benefit society and destructive criticism which seeks to undermine society's achievements.... This is not criticism, this is abuse of freedom of the press," he said.
Additional reporting by AFP
By Liam Stack
First Published: September 20, 2007
CAIRO: The National Council for Human Rights expressed its “distress” this week over the convictions of four newspaper editors on charges of insulting President Hosni Mubarak, his son and the ruling party, and called for the President to fulfill promises made in his 2005 electoral campaign to overturn laws that curtail freedom of expression.
In a statement released to the media, the Council, which is backed by the government, urged President Mubarak to “re-examine laws pertaining to freedom of expression” and to “draft new legislation to allow the free flow and exchange of information.”
It urged the President to consider the “gravity of the negative political impact of these provisions on the freedom of press and expression to the entire process of democratic reform.”
The convictions have landed the editors of some of the country’s most popular independent newspapers in serious legal trouble, and each face steep fines of LE 20,000. The four were Adel Hammouda, of Al-Fajr weekly, Ibrahim Eissa, editor of Al-Dostour daily, Wael Al-Ibrashy, editor of Sout Al-Omah weekly, and Abd Al-Halim Kandil, ex-editor of Al-Karama newspaper.
Lawyers of the four men say they will appeal the convictions, and that they are being punished not for insulting the regime but for airing fair criticisms of the government.
Under a deal reached with the court, the men paid LE 10,000 in bail but will not have to begin their incarceration until the appeals process is complete.
This conviction is separate from another case currently pending against Eissa, who has described the regime as “archaic” and “fascist.” He will be tried in October for spreading what the state calls false information about the president’s health.
In its statement the National Council says that the state must foster “the right environment for independent journalism that will play a positive role in paving the path of democracy.”
Independent observers say that the convictions must be seen as part of the larger crack down on civil society and opposition groups, which has resulted in the arrest of hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood and the forcible closure of active civil rights groups like the Center for Trade Union and Worker Services and the Association for Human Rights and Legal Aid.
Indeed, some say, rather than a detour on the road to reform, the crack down is an indication of the state’s hostility to the path of democracy.
“This is a clear indication that we are seeing the end of the relative openness that began in 2005,” says Hossam Bahgat, the Director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.
In light of the case, rights groups on Saturday accused Egypt of curbing press freedom.
Human Rights Watch called on the government to repeal laws that allow authorities to "imprison writers and editors solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression."
Amnesty International called for a review of the press law passed in July 2006 in which publishing offences, such as insulting public officials, carry prison sentences.
"Press freedom does not exist in a country where the state can put you in prison simply for criticizing the president," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
"This ruling and the new charges against (Eissa) are incompatible with Egypt's constitution and its commitments under international human rights law, not to mention Egypt's current membership on the UN Human Rights Council," she said.
In comments to the weekly Al-Osboa paper published Saturday, Mubarak defended Egypt's press laws and insisted he was an advocate of press freedom, but within limits.
"I am not against criticism... but there is a difference between constructive criticism which seeks to benefit society and destructive criticism which seeks to undermine society's achievements.... This is not criticism, this is abuse of freedom of the press," he said.
Additional reporting by AFP
Labels: Daily News Egypt
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