Monthly Observation Report: Freedom of Media in Egypt

December 2016

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies

1

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) is a non-governmental,

non-party and non-profit organization with a mission to propose public policies

that aim at reforming the Egyptian legal and economic systems. ECPPS’s goal is to

promote the principles of free market, individual freedom and the rule of law.

Monthly Observation Report: Freedom of Media in Egypt

December 2016

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies

2

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies issues this monthly observation report on the

freedom of media in Egypt as an attempt to monitor the freedom and independence of media in

Egypt within the following five spheres:

Performance

of media

Economic

sphere

Legal sphere

Role of

Civil society

Political

sphere

Monthly Observation Report: Freedom of Media in Egypt

December 2016

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies

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Contents:

o Introduction

Legal sphere

Political sphere

Economic sphere

Performance of media

Role of civil society

Monthly Observation Report: Freedom of Media in Egypt

December 2016

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies

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o Introduction

This monthly observation report monitors the legal developments related to the press, media and

freedom of exchanging information. It also monitors the judgments issued against those who

work in these fields and the political context impacting them, directly or indirectly, through

media censorship and other means [of suppression]. Then, the report discusses the economic

context, the degree of professionalism in media coverage of events and whether the media

showed a balanced discourse and considered all points of view, especially the opposition’s.

Finally, the record discusses civil society’s efforts in defending the freedom of the press, media

and information through reports, conferences, etc. during December 2016.

Monthly Observation Report: Freedom of Media in Egypt

December 2016

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies

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Legal sphere:

Laws:

On Monday, 26/12/2016, President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi ratified Law No. 92/2016 on the

Institutional Regulation of the Press and Media that was recently approved by the House of

Representatives in spite of opposing calls, as well as debates inside its Media Committee about

excluding media institutions from the consolidated law.1

Journalists Syndicate’s Regulations Committee asked the speaker of the House of

Representatives to hold a meeting for hearing sessions on press and media laws. Gamal Abdel

Reheem, the syndicate’s general secretary, said that certain provisions and articles were not

contained in the law, but rather was added by the government and the parliament, indicating that

journalists do not approve such provisions and that the majority of journalists agreed to address

the Culture and Media Committee. He also stressed that journalists insist on adopting a

consolidated media law.2

Judgments:

- In a session held on 3 December, Luxor Misdemeanor Court found Tarek Khudary Ashur, a

journalist in Ajel Masr [Breaking Egypt] website in Qena, innocent, and charged him with a fine

of EGP 10,000, in case no. 6884/2011, as an interim civil compensation pursuant to Articles 304

and 305 of the Penal Code. The case was filed against the journalist because he published many

articles accusing the chairman of the Good Samaritan, a Coptic association, of corruption and

obtaining money from abroad and not spending them.3

- High State Security Prosecution, under the supervision of Attorney General Khaled Diaa El

Din, ordered a 15-day detention of Mahmoud Hussein Gomaa, head of correspondents in Al

Jazeera’s Headquarter in Doha, for further investigation. The prosecution accused the detainee of

incitement against state and possession of fabricated film material that can cause damage to the

national security, disrupt public order and spread chaos.4

_______________________________

1 A Debate in House of Representatives’ Media Committee about Excluding Media Institutions,

https://goo.gl/yX0Cbf (in Arabic)

2 Regulations Committee Askes the Speaker of Parliament to Hold a Meeting Regarding the Press Law,

https://goo.gl/VqtDf1 (in Arabic)

3 A Journalist in Ajel Masr Found Innocent of A False Report, https://goo.gl/naWwIu (in Arabic)

4 Al Jazeera’s Head of Correspondents Detained for 15 Days, https://goo.gl/SjHI14 (in Arabic)

Monthly Observation Report: Freedom of Media in Egypt

December 2016

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies

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Al Jazeera Network announced through its website that the Egyptian security authorities detained

Mahmoud Hussein, a producer at Al Jazeera news channel, during his annual vacation in Egypt.

Al Jazeera added that security authorities at Cairo Airport detained Hussein for about 15 hours

upon his arrival last Thursday before releasing him, then authorities detained him again, along

with his brother, from his house and took them to an unknown place.5

- On 25 December 2016, Qasr El-Nil Appellant Misdemeanor Court adjourned the consideration

of the appeal filed by the head of journalists syndicate and two board members against their two-

year sentence, to 14 January 2017. On 19 November 2016, Qasr El-Nil Misdemeanor Court had

ordered a two-year sentence against Yehia Kalash, the head of the syndicate, Gamal Abdel

Reheem, the syndicate’s general secretary of, and Khaled El-Balshy, the syndicate’s

undersecretary, for sheltering reporters wanted by security authorities.6

- Tawfiq Okasha was referred to misdemeanor court for the defamation of Abu Hashima. The

latter’s attorney said that Okasha conducted a TV interview on Al Faraeen channel where he

uttered some phrases that represent a defamation of Ahmed Abu Hashima [a famous Egyptian

business man].7

Political sphere

- Ali Abdel Aal, the Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives, stated, in one the house’s

sessions, that journalist Ibrahim Isa commits crimes punishable by the penal code, in his show on

Al Qahira Wa Al Nas. The House of Representatives started its attack on Ibrahim Isa due to the

latter’s severe criticism against the house and its speaker. To everybody’s surprise, two recorded

episodes were broadcasted instead of air broadcasting [sic].8

_______________________________________ 5 Egyptian Authorities Arrests One of Al Jazeera’s Journalists, https://goo.gl/rHTdqS (in Arabic)

6Appeal by Journalists Syndicate’s Leaders Adjourned to 14 January, https://goo.gl/X4UEha (in Arabic) 7Tawfiq Okasha Referred to Misdemeanor Court for Defaming Abu Hashima, https://goo.gl/EgeRPP (in Arabic) 8 Parliament Sets Ibrahim Isa on Fire, https://goo.gl/R7Mq (in Arabic)

Monthly Observation Report: Freedom of Media in Egypt

December 2016

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies

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Following the parliament’s attack on Ibrahim Isa, Le Marché problem began9, where the fair was

cancelled due to security concerns a week ahead of its opening. Le Marché is a fair for major

furniture companies held in Egypt annually for 32 years. The fair is organized by the Arab

African Promoters for International Conferences (AAPIC) and sponsored by Tarek Nour

Advertising Agency. Nour is the owner of Al Qahira Wa Al Nas channel. The cancellation of the

fair caused large economic losses, which lead Parliament Members Mohamed Anwar El Sadat

and Haitham Al Hariri to request a statement by the Minister of Interior and state officials in

charge to that problem.10

- On Saturday, 10/12/2016, Al Dostor newspaper was censored, although the paper issue was

printed. Al Dostor cited a statement by Alaa Ramadan, officer in charge of Al Gomhuria Press,

that higher orders was given to censor the printed issue due its trespasses.11

- In an official statement, Tharwat Abdel Azeez, undersecretary of the Ministry of Education in

Bani Suef, prevented seven directors of educational directorates, and over 1500 schools in the

governorate, from dealing with medial and journalists, and prevented giving any press

statements.12

- Lamees Al Hadidi and her crew, Riham Said, TV presenter of Sabaia Al Kheir and TV

presenter Ahmed Mousa were assaulted and dismissed during their coverage of the explosion

that occurred inside the Petrine Church adjacent to St. Mark's Cathedral in Abbasia.13

- Lamees Al Hadidi filed an official police report, accusing her assaulters of attempting to kill

her.14

_______________________________________ 9 What Is the Problem of Le Marché Furniture Fair?, https://goo.gl/UdVGBu (in Arabic) 10 Is Cancellation Due to Ibrahim Isa’s Show in the Channel Owned by Nour, the Fair Organizer, https://goo.gl/tlhpfG (in Arabic) 11 Al Dostor: Saturday’s Issue Censored after Being Printed Due to “Higher Orders”, https://goo.gl/jiP9MA (in Arabic)

12 Bani Suef Education Prohibits Dealing with Media, https://goo.gl/Benp2y (in Arabic) 13

Main Assaults on Media men in 2016, https://goo.gl/i6GRQF (in Arabic) 14

Lamees Al Hadidi Accuses Her Assaulters in Front of Petrine Church of Trying to Kill Her,

https://goo.gl/a5FXZq (in Arabic)

Monthly Observation Report: Freedom of Media in Egypt

December 2016

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies

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Economic sphere

Newspapers were impacted in general and state-owned and private newspapers incurred financial

losses after the decision to float the Egyptian Pound. Newspaper were also impacted due to the

latest increases on them [sic]. “A paper prepared by Journalists Against Torture”15

Performance of Media

Magdy Tantawi, presenter of Kalam Garayed [Newspapers’ Talk] show, aired by Al Aasema

channel, made statements that incite sexual harassment, misogyny and religious discrimination.

He said: “Those who reject Islam reject Fitra [common sense.]” He also derided actresses and

accused them of [practicing] nudity.16

Role of civil society

- In a report prepared by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Egypt ranked third, after Turkey

and China [as biggest press suppressors].17

- Kareem Abdel Radi, a lawyer at the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, stated that

Shawkan’s defense requested to review the report, indicating that he shall submit a request to

admit Shawkan to forensic medicine examination, as he does not trust the prison’s report. The

prison’s hospital had made a report on the health condition of photojournalist Shawkan

indicating that he is not infected by Hepatitis C.18

__________________ 15

Journalists Against Torture Proposes Several Scenarios for the Survival of Printed Press, https://goo.gl/nYPnYK

(in Arabic)

16 Kalam Garayed with Madgy Tantawi, https://goo.gl/vj9Spf (YouTube video in Arabic)

17 Turkey Is the World’s Biggest Prison for Journalists, Followed by China and Egypt is Third,

https://goo.gl/BguuaG (in Arabic)

18 Shawkan’s Lawyer: the Report of the Prison’s Hospital Says He Does Not Have Hepatitis C,

https://goo.gl/XWv0un (in Arabic)

Monthly Observation Report: Freedom of Media in Egypt

December 2016

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies

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- Winners of Shawkan Photo Award were announced by the Award’s organizers at the end of

December. The Award, named after photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid (also know as

Shawkan) who is still under detention since 2013, is given to male and female journalists who

present the best photos.

- Journalists Against Torture issued its weekly publication, recording 7 violations over the week.

Most of the recorded violations were cases of prevention of coverage of some sessions and

public events. Only at one case, an assault on journalists occurred inside Musicians Syndicate

during a celebration of Hani Shaker’s birthday.

Also, Journalists against Torture issued a research paper on the crisis of printed press in Egypt,

as well as a paper on the most controversial points in the Law on the Institutional Regulation of

the Press and Media.20

___________________

19 Facebook Page of Shawkan Photo Awards https://goo.gl/MjPlCl

20 Assault on Journalists in Musicians Syndicate, and Banning Media Coverage of Zamalek’s General Assembly,

https://goo.gl/AKSogQ (in Arabic)