By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
Egypt continues to imprison those who exercise their right to freedom of expression. The latest victims are four newspaper editors who published stories critical of high officials of the Egyptian government. One editor is also accused of harming the Egyptian economy by publishing the article saying the health of 79-year-old President Hosni Mubarak is in decline. Prosecutors said investors consequently took out $350 million out of Egypt.
On September 13, 2007, a Cairo misdemeanor court sentenced the four editors to a maximum one year in prison and a 20,000 Egyptian pounds ($3,540) each. The four are Adil Hamouda, editor of the weekly Al-Fagr, Wael al-Ibrashi, of the weekly Sawt al-Umma, Abd al-Halim Qandil, former editor of the weekly Al-Karama, and Ibrahim Issa, editor of the daily Al-Dustur.
The ruling is yet another blow against Egypt’s freedom of expression. On May 2, 2007, a Cairo criminal court imprisoned Al-Jazeera journalist Huwaida Taha Mitwalli for her documentary about torture in Egypt. On March 12, 2007, another Cairo court for the first time sentenced a blogger who criticized Islam and President Mubarak. On October 31, 2006, a Cairo military court ordered a former parliament member Tal`at al-Sadat to one year in prison for “insulting the military and the republican guard.” On June 26, 2006, a court near Cairo sent a journalist for Al-Dustur to one year in prison for “insulting the president.”
For more information please see:
BBC News – Editor charged over Mubarak story – 13 September 2007
Al-Jazeera – Egypt sentences newspaper editors – 13 September 2007
Human Rights Watch – Four editors get prison terms, fines – 15 September 2007
Human Rights Watch – Government detains Al-Jazeera journalist – 17 January 2007
Human Rights Watch – Blogger’s imprisonment sets chilling precedent – 22 February 2007
Human Rights Watch – MP jailed in lastest attack on free expression – 4 November 2006
Human Rights Watch – Jailing journalists strikes at press freedom – 28 June 2006
