Monthly Observation Report Freedom of Media in …June 2017 The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies-ECPPS 2 ECPPS presents monthly Observation report for press freedom in Egypt,
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Monthly Observation ReportFreedom of Media in Egypt
June 2017
Monthly observation report:“Freedom of Media in Egypt”June 2017
Prepared byMarianne Sedhom
Reviewed byAhmed Ragab
Cover designed byAbdulrahman Mohamed
The Egyptian Center For Public Policy Studies
All copyrights are reserved to their respective authors,it is permitted to use the data included after citingthe resources, any copyright infringement subjectsits perpetrator to legal claims
Issued by Individual Freedom ProgramJune 2017
www.ecpps.orgTel./Fax. : +202795881
21 Abd El-Mgeed El-Ramaly st, 7th floor,Flat 71, Falaki square,Downtown, Cairo, Egypt
Monthly Observation Report of Media Freedom in Egypt June 2017
1 The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies-ECPPS
The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) is a non-governmental,
non-partisan, non-profit organization whose mission is to reform the legal and
economic system in Egypt in order to achieve the principles of free market,
minimum state, individual freedom and rule of law.
Monthly Observation Report of Media Freedom in Egypt June 2017
2 The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies-ECPPS
ECPPS presents monthly Observation report for press freedom in Egypt, in an
attempt to monitor the freedom and independence of media in Egypt through five
axes, including the legal, political and economic environments, the media
performance, and the role of civil society.
Practices of
media
Economic
sphere
Legal sphere
Role of
Civil society
Political
sphere
Monthly Observation Report of Media Freedom in Egypt June 2017
3 The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies-ECPPS
Contents
Introduction
The Legal Environment
The Political Environment
The Economic Environment
The Media Performance
The Role of Civil Society
Monthly Observation Report of Media Freedom in Egypt June 2017
4 The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies-ECPPS
Introduction
This report monitors the legal developments related to the media, press and free
exchange of information, as well as the verdicts issued against media professionals.
It also focuses on the political environment impacting journalists, either directly or
indirectly, through media censorship, prevention and confiscation of media outlets,
and other methods. The report further follows the economic environment, and how
far the media provides a professional and balanced coverage of events, and how far
it provides a platform of expression for all points of view, particularly opposition.
Finally, it presents an overview of civil society efforts in advocating press and media
freedom, and the free exchange of information, through issuing reports, holding
conferences and other activities that took place in June.
Monthly Observation Report of Media Freedom in Egypt June 2017
5 The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies-ECPPS
• Legal Environment
MP Kamal Amer, head of the defense and national security committee in the parliament,
presented in May a draft law to toughen penalties on charges of insulting the country's
president, parliament and state officials. He called for allowing detention under remand and
imposing EGP 100,000 fine in the cases of insulting state bodies.
The remand was cancelled in 2012 in the publishing crimes, while detention penalty was
abolished in the charge of insulting the president in 2013, but the fining is still operative in
both charges.
These articles represent legislative obstacles in the face of the freedom of media, violating
the international standards in this field. We look forward to the abolition of detention in the
charges for defamation and publication in general. We aim that those charged in such crimes
be tried only by a civil law rather than a criminal law. The law should also define clear
standards to measure how far the plaintiff was affected by such crimes.
People in public office are supposed to accept more criticism than ordinary citizens. The
state institutions should never be protected from criticism, because institutions cannot be
insulted, actually the insult only matters for individuals.
Representatives of a number of blocked Egyptian websites filed a unified complaint to the
prosecutor general and appointed a unified group of defense lawyers.to represent them in
the case. The announcement was made during a press conference held on Wednesday,
March 31 at the Syndicate of Journalists' headquarters. The conference witnessed the
participation of a number of the syndicate's board members and MPs, who offered to
present official memos about the block to Parliament. It comes after a meeting held at the
syndicate to discuss the possible steps to end the blocking of websites.
An unidentified executive authority has blocked a number of websites on Wednesday, May
24, on allegation of supporting terrorism. The blocked websites included Mada Masr, Al-
Mesryoon, Masr Al-Arabiya, Al-Borsa, Daily News Egypt, Cairo Portal, and others.
Investigations and verdicts
The State Security Prosecution opened an investigation in the complaint submitted by the
Head of the Supreme Media Regulatory Council, Makram Mohammed Ahmed, against Al-
Maqal newspaper. The complainer claimed that Al-Maqal had published articles that "stir
turmoil" and notified the Syndicate of Journalists to take necessary actions. Ten journalists,
including Ibrahim Issa and Hanan Fikri, the former candidate for the Syndicate of Journalists'
board, were questioned by the syndicate.
The Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that Article 52 of Law No 96 of Year 1996,
concerning the regulation and organization of journalism and press functions, is
unconstitutional. The article required establishing a joint stock company to obtain a license
for publishing a newspaper.
Monthly Observation Report of Media Freedom in Egypt June 2017
6 The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies-ECPPS
The court affirmed that the appealed article violates the freedom of press and contravened
Article 70 of the 2014 Constitution "Newspapers may be issued once notification is given as
regulated by law. The law shall regulate ownership and establishment procedures for visual
and radio broadcast stations in addition to online newspapers."
On the other hand, the court dismissed the case filed by the Public Prosecution regarding
the unconstitutionality of the first paragraph of Article 178 bis of the Penal Code on
publishing crimes. It stipulates that the chief Editors and the Publishers shall be considered
responsible as principal perpetrators, upon publishing.
The verdict upheld the article that holds the chief Editors and the Publishers liable for
publishing crimes against public morals.
The Zoom News' photographer Amr Adel was released from detention after the court
accepted his appeal against the one-year imprisonment sentence, and changed the sentence
to two months in prison.
Adel had already spent nine months in prison, so he was released after a few hours of
accepting the appeal.
The security forces had arrested Adel at the Ezbet Al-Nakhl metro station on Friday evening,
August 26, 2016. He was accused of joining a banned group, demonstrating without permit,
and possessing Molotov-cocktail, in the case No. 8410 for year 2016.
On the other hand, another journalist from Tahya Misr website was released among the list
of detainees who were pardoned by the President on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.
The prosecution released the Chief Editor of Al-Gomhuria newspaper after he was
summoned on charge of publishing an article insulting the public prosecution and judiciary.
The article, entitled "Abu Trika is not a terrorist", was written by Tarek Al-Adour, head of the
sport department in the newspaper, who was also summoned by the prosecution.
Al-Adour was accused of insulting the judiciary and prosecution, and influencing the
investigative bodies. Both journalists denied insulting the judiciary or prosecution, stressing
that the article focused on Abu Trika's football history.
The Cairo Appeals Court released TV presenter and journalist Wael Al-Ibrashi on bail of EGP
5,000, on charges of influencing the investigation process in the murder of the young
conscript Mo'men Saad Agha by judge Hossam Shoukri in Nasr City. Al-Ibrashi had hosted
the family of the victim who was shot by the judge during a quarrel between them.
The TV presenter Mohamed Al-Ghaiti was also released on bail of EGP 5,000 on charges of
influencing the investigation process in the same case. Al-Ghaiti tackled the case in his
program using phrases that were considered as a crime in accordance with Article 187 of the
Penal Code, according to the prosecution.
Monthly Observation Report of Media Freedom in Egypt June 2017
7 The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies-ECPPS
• Political Environment
Amid the lack and difficulty of obtaining and exchanging information, and punishing
publishers, the former military spokesperson Mohamed Samir wrote an article, entitled "Not
everything should be announced" that was published in Youm7 newspaper. Samir said that
the state is never required under any circumstances to release all its information or future
plans in the strategic issues related to national security "under the pretext of transparency".
Prevention of media coverage, and verbal and physical attack on journalists
Prevention of coverage:
The Egyptian Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal ordered journalists to leave the council during
a quarrel erupted among the members of parliament over Tiran and Sanafir islands issue.
Abdel Aal retreated his decision after pressure from MPs and journalists.
The Supreme Council of Culture prohibited the broadcast of voting process on the State
Encouragement Awards, upon the instructions of the Minister of Culture, Helmy Al-Namnm.
The minister explained that the ban came in accordance with the law. He revealed that one
of the candidates demanded not to publish his result because he received no votes in the
election. Al-Namnm added that the law provided the secrecy of voting; however the
broadcasting of voting guarantees transparency of the process.
The security deployed at the Abdeen Court prevented journalists from entering the court to
cover the prosecution's investigations with the journalists opposing the border demarcation
agreement. Those journalists had been arrested in the vicinity of the Syndicate of
Journalists.
On the other hand, the security forces prevented photographers from covering the trial of
former tourism minister Zuhair Garrana.
The preventing media coverage was repeated in several cases without clarifying any reasons
or rules of banning coverage. The authorities have not even defined the legal ways to appeal
the ban that deprives society from its right to knowledge.
For example, a journalist from Al-Bawaba newspaper was prevented from covering a
Ramadan activity at the Sawy Culture Wheel; a number of journalists were prevented from
covering the general high school exams in Sinai, and preventing journalists from covering the
Minister of Culture's visit to Faisal Book Fair.
A court also prevents journalists from covering the trial of human rights lawyer Khalid Ali,
who was accused of committing a “shameless and disgraceful act.”on a public road.
Monthly Observation Report of Media Freedom in Egypt June 2017
8 The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies-ECPPS
Verbal and physical attacks on journalists:
The security forces attacked journalists and arrested dozens of them during a demonstration
held in front of the Syndicate of Journalists' headquarters protesting the Parliament's
discussion of the border demarcation agreement between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The
agreement recognizes the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia on Tiran and Sanafir islands.
Head of the syndicate, Abdel Mohsen Salama, said that he will not allow anymore sit-ins in
the syndicate, stressing it is not a place for practicing politics.
The Homeland Security deleted the data of a reporter's mobile phone as she was covering
the aftermath of the terrorist attack that killed dozens of Christians on their way to a
monastery in Minya.
The families of victims assaulted Daily News Egypt's reporter because they thought she
worked for Al-Jazeera, that incited against them. The reporter had no papers to prove its
affiliation to Daily News Egypt. A journalist from Veto website, and a photographer and
journalist from Al-Watan newspaper were also assaulted during their coverage of the
terrorist incident.
Content Censorship
The Supreme Council for Media released a report assessing talk shows, advertisements and
TV series. The report said that the assessed content contained Sexual suggestiveness,
promoted unacceptable behavior, presented inaccurate historical incidents, and abused
some professions.
The council imposed fines of EGP 200,000 on each satellite channel and EGP 100,000 on
radio stations that broadcast those violations.
Moreover, the council threatened to withdraw the broadcast license of any channel that
does not commit to the decision within six months since imposing the penalties. In addition,
the council allocated 10% of the fine to the citizen who files the complaint against the
channel, which makes citizens censor on each other's tastes.
Thus, new restrictions have been added to the existing ones, affecting negatively on the
freedom of media and creativity.
The number of blocked websites amounted to 109 during this month, according to a survey
prepared by the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression in its report on blocked
websites in Egypt.
The blocking has been ended for a few hours on June 16, but it returned in the same day and
included new websites.
Monthly Observation Report of Media Freedom in Egypt June 2017
9 The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies-ECPPS
A high-level source at the Ministry of Communications said on June 20 that the government
bypassed Internet service providers and blocked the websites on their own. He added that
this blocking was likely conducted via Ramses communication central, which is the main
Internet access point in Egypt. It lies under the control of the National Telecommunications
Regulatory Authority (NTRA).
The Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) released a technical analysis on the
role of three Egyptian Internet service providers in blocking the websites, including
Vodafone Egypt; TE Data, owned by Telecom Egypt; and Orange Egypt.
The analysis pointed out that the Egyptian Internet service providers used deep packet
inspection technology, which allows to intercept internet packets to identify their contents
and the nature of information transferred through them. They also used "Reset" technique
to disable the connection of websites.
The Chief Editor of Bawabet Yanair (January Gate), Amr Badr, said that his website was
blocked after it was hacked by unknown entity that published a fake article under his name,
insulting the President, the Speaker of Parliament and others.
An article, entitled "When the journalist is a failure and abomination", wrote by Mohamed
Al-Sharqawi and published in Youm7 newspaper attacked a fake article attributed to
journalist Khalid Al-Balshi, Chief Editor of Al-Bedaiah newspaper. In addition, Sout Al-Omma
newspaper attacked Badr and Al-Balshi in an article entitled "Writer hacked from behind
deny what they wrote."
On June 9, journalist Mokhtar Abdel Aal, Deputy Chief Editor of Al-Masa'a newspaper, was
banned from writing because of his article "Walking on the Thorns" that warned against
abandoning Tiran and Sanafir islands.
An issue of Al-Sabah newspaper was banned because of a footage from the Earth movie
published on its front page, in reference to the abandon of Tiran and Sanafir islands.
• Economic Environment
Hatem Zakaria, secretary-general of the Syndicate of Journalists, said that the registration
fees for new members will be increased to EGP 1,500 instead of EGP 400, without clarifying
the reasons of raising the fees, especially in the light of current economic circumstances.
• Media Performance
Youm7 newspaper deleted an interview made by journalist Eman Abu Taleb with her
husband Mohamed Samir, former military spokesperson, about their marriage, because of
the readers' criticizing comments on the interview via social media.
The newspaper said that it deleted the interview for "purely humanitarian and family
reasons".
Monthly Observation Report of Media Freedom in Egypt June 2017
11 The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies-ECPPS
In response, the newspaper published a small article by Samir, entitled "Mob” that also
provoked condemnation and anger among readers. Samir wrote another article to explain
that he meant electronic committees on social media, not the great Egyptian people, in his
article.
Social Media activists welcomed the Youm7's gesture for deleting the interview, on the
condition that the newspaper would use the same policy in dealing with other figures who
came under criticism, defamation, or accusation of treason.
• The Role of Civil Society
The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression filed a lawsuit before the
Administrative Court challenging the Egyptian government's blocking of dozens of websites
over the past weeks. It pointed out that those websites were blocked without issuing prior
decision or announcing the associated entity that issued the decision and its legal authority.
Papers of Research
The Journalists against Torture observatory issued its monthly report, entitled "64 Violations
against Media Freedom in May 2017", categorizing the violations according to the type of
violation, the victim's destination, the aggressor, and others
21 Abd El-Mgeed El-Ramaly st, 7th floor,Flat 71, Falaki square,Downtown, Cairo, Egypt
Tel./Fax. : +٢٠٢٧٩٥٨٨١
www.ecpps.org
Monthly observation
Freedom of Media
in EgyptReport
June 2017
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