Egypt papers strike over press crackdown
Sunday, 7 October 2007
CAIRO, Oct 7 (AFP): Egyptian independent and opposition newspapers suspended publication Sunday in protest at a government clampdown that has seen several journalists hit with lengthy jail terms.
At least 15 newspapers did not publish their Sunday edition, and independent and opposition weeklies will not be appearing on news stands this week.
The move follows the sentencing of seven journalists in September to up to two years in prison on charges ranging from misquoting the justice minister to spreading rumours about the health of 79-year-old President Hosni Mubarak.
The clampdown led the United States-which provides Egypt with two billion dollars in aid each year-to voice "deep concern" over the sentences, a criticism rejected by Cairo as "unacceptable interference."
Journalists in Egypt can be jailed for writings that are deemed insulting to the president or state institutions such as parliament or the cabinet.
At least 15 newspapers did not publish their Sunday edition, and independent and opposition weeklies will not be appearing on news stands this week.
The move follows the sentencing of seven journalists in September to up to two years in prison on charges ranging from misquoting the justice minister to spreading rumours about the health of 79-year-old President Hosni Mubarak.
The clampdown led the United States-which provides Egypt with two billion dollars in aid each year-to voice "deep concern" over the sentences, a criticism rejected by Cairo as "unacceptable interference."
Journalists in Egypt can be jailed for writings that are deemed insulting to the president or state institutions such as parliament or the cabinet.