CAIRO, Egypt – The White House raised “deep concern” about Egypt’s recent court cases against the independent press and the closure of a human rights organization.
This month alone, at least seven journalists were sentenced to imprisonment for exercising their right to freedom of expression. On September 13, a Cairo court sent four editors of independent newspapers to prison for publishing stories critical of President Hosni Mubarak and other officials. Less than two weeks later, three more journalists were sent to jail for “damaging the image of justice” by publishing an article calling 90 percent of Egyptian judges incompetent.
Elsewhere, a human rights group dedicated to torture victims was forced to shut down. Association for Human Rights Legal Aid (AHRLA) was one of the country’s leading human rights organizations that reported on human rights violations and provided legal assistance to its victims.
Faced with the rising prosecutions, editors from 15 independent and opposition newspapers plan not to publish on October 7 to protest the state’s “offensive against the press freedom.” Also, AHRLA has appealed the decree to a Cairo court to reverse the government’s order to shutdown the organization.
Some analysts say Egypt’s ruling party wants to quash dissent in anticipation of their transition of power from President Hosni Mubarak to his likely successor, his son Gamel. Analysts also blame waning U.S. pressure on Egypt to improve its human rights record as the reason why Egypt has been willing to contradict their stated commitment to democratic rights.
Nevertheless, U.S. criticized Egypt on Tuesday, and Egypt rejected the comments as “unacceptable interference” in the country’s internal affairs.
For more information, please see:
AFP – Temperature rises as Egypt presses in the dock – 27 September 2007
BBC News – Egypt angry at US rights comment – 26 September 2007
Al Jazeera – Three Egyptian journalists jailed – 24 September 2007
Reuters – Egypt court orders three journalists jailed – 24 September 2007
Human Rights Watch – Four editors get prison terms, fines – 15 September 2007
