Editors given jail term for defaming Mubarak
Thursday, 20 September 2007
Andrew England
AN Egyptian court has sentenced four newspaper editors to a year in prison for defaming Hosni Mubarak, the president, and his son Gamal.
The judgment is seen as a setback for press freedom in Egypt, which has increased in recent years with independent newspapers becoming increasingly vocal and critical in their coverage of social and political issues.
The lawsuit against the four, who run tabloid-style publications, was filed about a year ago by two members of the ruling National Democratic party (NDP) acting in a private capacity.
The editors, who were also each fined E£20,000 ($3,570, euro2,600, £1,740), have the right to appeal and were released on bail pending a hearing, according to reports.
State prosecutors in the second week of this month referred Ibrahim Issa, one of the editors, for trial in a separate case, also for defaming the president. Mr Issa is the editor of alDustour, a daily which last month published rumours suggesting Mr Mubarak, 79, was ill.
Independent newspapers in Egypt have gradually taken a more critical stance over recent years, although some publications have adopted a sensationalist tone and have been accused of fabricating stories.
However, the government has become increasingly hostile to criticism, human rights activists say. The action against the editors is seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Egypt.
Gasser Abdel-Razek of Human Rights Watch traces the intolerance back to the elections in late 2005, when the Muslim Brotherhood surprised many by winning 88 parliamentary seats.
Although banned, the Islamist movement is the most organised opposition group and its electoral success shocked the NDP.
This year has also seen a number of worker strikes and protests by villagers complaining about water shortages.
There has also been much speculation about Mr Mubarak's health in recent weeks. He has been president since 1981 and many question whether Gamal is being groomed to succeed him, a claim that both men deny.
"It's very worrying for the government because political groups are easy to manage but when feelings of dissent get outside it's more difficult. Part of the reason for the crackdown is that the level of dissent is spreading," Mr Abdel-Razek said.
"The problem is that the legal framework can still be used [by the government] whenever it is convenient. Now criticism is at a much higher level than ever before. Most of the taboos that existed seven or five years ago, including about the president and his family, [have] disappeared."
........................................
FT Syndication Service
AN Egyptian court has sentenced four newspaper editors to a year in prison for defaming Hosni Mubarak, the president, and his son Gamal.
The judgment is seen as a setback for press freedom in Egypt, which has increased in recent years with independent newspapers becoming increasingly vocal and critical in their coverage of social and political issues.
The lawsuit against the four, who run tabloid-style publications, was filed about a year ago by two members of the ruling National Democratic party (NDP) acting in a private capacity.
The editors, who were also each fined E£20,000 ($3,570, euro2,600, £1,740), have the right to appeal and were released on bail pending a hearing, according to reports.
State prosecutors in the second week of this month referred Ibrahim Issa, one of the editors, for trial in a separate case, also for defaming the president. Mr Issa is the editor of alDustour, a daily which last month published rumours suggesting Mr Mubarak, 79, was ill.
Independent newspapers in Egypt have gradually taken a more critical stance over recent years, although some publications have adopted a sensationalist tone and have been accused of fabricating stories.
However, the government has become increasingly hostile to criticism, human rights activists say. The action against the editors is seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Egypt.
Gasser Abdel-Razek of Human Rights Watch traces the intolerance back to the elections in late 2005, when the Muslim Brotherhood surprised many by winning 88 parliamentary seats.
Although banned, the Islamist movement is the most organised opposition group and its electoral success shocked the NDP.
This year has also seen a number of worker strikes and protests by villagers complaining about water shortages.
There has also been much speculation about Mr Mubarak's health in recent weeks. He has been president since 1981 and many question whether Gamal is being groomed to succeed him, a claim that both men deny.
"It's very worrying for the government because political groups are easy to manage but when feelings of dissent get outside it's more difficult. Part of the reason for the crackdown is that the level of dissent is spreading," Mr Abdel-Razek said.
"The problem is that the legal framework can still be used [by the government] whenever it is convenient. Now criticism is at a much higher level than ever before. Most of the taboos that existed seven or five years ago, including about the president and his family, [have] disappeared."
........................................
FT Syndication Service