monthly observation report freedom of media in egypt ... observation report august.pdfsaeed and doaa...

Monthly Observation ReportFreedom of Media in Egypt

August 2017

Monthly observation report:“Freedom of Media in Egypt”August

Prepared byAhmed Abo ElMagd

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 Program2017

www.ecpps.orgTel./Fax. : +202795881

21 Abd El-Mgeed El-Ramaly st, 7th floor,Flat 71, Falaki square,Downtown, Cairo, Egypt

Monthly Observation Report: Freedom of Media in Egypt - August 2017

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies – ECPPS 1

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) is a non-

governmental, non-party and non-profit organization with a mission

to propose public policies that aim at reforming the Egyptian legal

and economic systems. ECPPS’s goal is to promote the principles of

free market, individual freedom and the rule of law



The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies issues this monthly observation

report on the freedom of media in Egypt as an attempt to monitor the freedom

and independence of media in Egypt within the following five spheres:

Performance of media

Economic

sphere

Legal

sphere

Role of

Civil society

Political

sphere



Content:

Introduction

Legal sphere

Political sphere

Economic sphere

Media Performance

Role of Civil Society



Introduction

This report monitors the legal developments related to the media and press, the

free exchange of information, and the rulings issued concerning media

professionals. It also monitors the political atmosphere influencing journalists

directly or indirectly through censorship over media, through prevention,

confiscation and other mechanisms. The report further follows the economic

atmosphere and how far the media discourse provides a professional and

balanced coverage of events, and how far it provides a platform of expression for

all viewpoints, particularly opposition. Finally, the report presents an overview of

civil society efforts in the field of advocacy for press freedom and the free

exchange of information through reports, conferences and other activities taking

place during this Month.



The repetition and variation of penalties imposed on media outlets is

unconstitutional

On the first week of August, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation decided

to stop airing four TV programs for a month each, on charges of violating the code

of ethics of media. The council also issued a warning to the channels that

broadcast them to withdraw their licenses in case of repetition of the violation.

The programs are "Sah El-noom" on L.T.C Channel, "Dody Show" on Al-Nahar

Channel, "Enferad" on Al-Assema Channel and "3 in 1" on ONtv Channel. The

violations attributed to them vary between forwarding unsupported accusations

of corruption towards current and former officials of the Ministry of Agriculture,

hosting those who promote unethical behaviors in regards to the relationship

between men and women, and the exchange of profanity between guests on one

of the programs to the extent that one of them raised his shoe in the other’s face.

Although the incidents attributed to the four programs are the same as those

considered by the Syndicate of Media, the syndicate's assessment differed from

that of the Council.

On the same week, it decided on imposing stricter penalties on two of its

members who present these programs. From a one-month suspension for the

programs to a three-months suspension for the Programs’ Presenters Riham

Saeed and Doaa Salah, while deciding on commuting the penalties in regards to

Mohamed El-Gheity and Saeed Hasasin, PhD, from a one month suspension of the

program to just a warning.

It is true that the law of the syndicate confers on itself the task of questioning its

members in the event of violating one of the articles of the media code of ethics

and that the Institutional Regulation of Press and Media Law mandates the

Supreme Council to question the channels in which they work. However, imposing



a double penalty on the same merits, is prohibited by any law or constitution and

suspending a presenter for the period of three months has no other meaning but

suspending the program itself during this period. Even though the penalty

imposed by the competent authority, which is the Supreme Council, is to suspend

the program for only one month and the syndicate was satisfied by just issuing a

warning to the presenters of "Sah El-noom" and "Enferad", it does not change the

fact that the Supreme Council decided to suspend both shows thus suspending

their presenters for a month as well.

What the Supreme Council did not notice is that the legislator has given him the

authority to impose sanctions on media institutions; in order that these sanctions

become a motive to them to compel their employees to abide by it, through

professional codes of conduct, and a mechanism of internal accountability, which

prevents them from exaggeration if mistakes are repeated. What the board of

directors of the existing media syndicate did not notice is that it is an interim

council, whose task is only to establish the syndicate's agenda, and that the

disciplinary accountability in professional syndicates should be exercised within

the framework of the assurances regulated by the law, including the right to self-

defense and the right to appeal sentences imposed by sanctions. What the parties

were not aware that their main task is not limited to compel journalists to fulfill

their duties -including respect for professional codes of conduct-, but also to

defend their material and moral rights, primarily their right to freedom of opinion,

expression and independence.

The main issue that the Egyptian media is suffering from now, lies in the

temporary and inconsistent legal status that organizes it. Upon the government

insisting -as a way of rectifying the path- on dividing the unified media draft

law, that was prepared by the National Committee for Legislations, into

sections, the Institutional Regulation Law was the first one to be issued, and by

which the three councils managing media affairs were created. Whereas the

second section, the Press and Media Regulating Law, is still submitted under the

consideration of the parliament, even though the government had already

approved it, the parliament had promised to issue it in the parliamentary session

that ended and that everyone realizes that its non-issuance is meaningless. 1

1 Salah Eissa's Atricle in Al Masry Al Youm Newspaper, August 2nd https://goo.gl/eHchwN

https://goo.gl/eHchwN



However, the situation shall remain exactly as it was before the referendum done

on the 2014 constitution, the previous laws shall remain status quo and the three

councils fail to perform their duties.

It was only rational that these councils become confused, and unable to find a

solution to the codification of the Egyptian newspapers’ and websites’ situation.

Hence the attempt to find the entity that issued the decision of suspension, to

utilize its free time by preparing a bill for freedom of circulation of information

and to announce the issuance of a decision that commands imposing a fine of 200

thousand Egyptian Pounds on any media outlet that airs profanity.

And in case of repetition of the violation, it is forced to close, with no regard to

the fact that the fine is a punishment that cannot be imposed without a law, and

cannot be issued but from the court, and without recalling that the constitution

does not allow the closing of newspapers or media outlets, and without seeking

to draft a law regulating the press and the media and the law for the abolition of

penalties of deprivation of liberty for offences connected with publishing from the

archives of the Ministry of Justice and the Parliament. Because from their

perspective, rectifying the path, must begin by disciplining journalists and media

professionals, with no procedures or guarantees.

The legal sphere

On August 28th, the Journalists’ Syndicate, together with the Culture and Media

Committee of the Parliament, continued to submit a proposal concerning the

terms of newspapers issuing a draft law regulating the press and the media,

established by the committee on the third session, which includes that the

number of members of syndicate in the existing newspaper or the applicant for

the license is not less than 95% of the work capacity. Thus, making the

maximum limit of trainees 5% of the newspaper’s workforce. A statement by

Journalists' Syndicate clarified that: "The syndicate’s council had agreed to the

letter sent to the Parliament, which requires newspapers requesting licenses and

listings, that the percentage of syndicate's members of the actual work capacity in

the newspaper is no less than 95%". The Syndicate’s justification for this proposal

is creating job opportunities for its members, and eliminating the phenomenon of



their exclusion and dismissal, replacing them with trainees without pay or

protection. The proposal punishes the owners of the violating newspapers by

imposing financial penalties between 100,000 and one million Egyptian Pounds

that goes to a fund established by the syndicate in favor of the unemployed.2

On August 4th, the deputy of the Defense and National Security Committee of the

Parliament, Yehia Kedwani, said that the talk of President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi on

consolidating the pillars of the state and dealing with the reasons for the

overthrow of the Egyptian state should be achieved in several ways. The first is

to uncover the dimensions of the conspiracies directed at Egypt and the Arab

Nation, and to educate the Egyptians about these conspiracies to protect them.

He continued in a statement to El-Shorouk Newspaper: "There are shortcomings

from the Ministry of Culture. And awareness will not be achieved without reviving

its spirits, developing youth centers, training mosques preachers for the role of

raising awareness and restoring the civil society organizations’ plan to support the

state”. Adding: "Whoever criticizes the president for repeating speeches about

the phobia of overthrowing the state (conspirators), aim to distort the facts and

mislead the public opinion, and media outlets are responsible for awareness.”

“These conspiracies have been meticulously planned and deluded Arab countries

to fall for their sectarian and ethnic differences.” added Kedwani, stressing on the

need to strengthen the army, the police, and state institutions, and implementing

the law, which will minimize the risk of falling.

In regards to the parliament’s role in fighting terrorism he said: “the Parliament

has never refrained from supporting the state with all that it has in order to

eliminate terrorism.", pointing out that during the first session it discussed some

issues affecting national security, such as “population increase, and slums and we

have made some amendments to the anti-terrorism law" in order to promptly

face these problems.3

2 Al Dostour Newspaper https://goo.gl/GW3fnQ

3 Al Shorouk Newspaper https://goo.gl/sZmd5N

https://goo.gl/GW3fnQ

https://goo.gl/sZmd5N



On August 12th, many reactions rose to the surface in regards to the member of

National Council for Countering Terrorism, Major General Fouad Allam’s

conversation with Youm7 Newspaper, after confirming his attempts to close

Facebook and Twitter legally to protect the youth from terrorism and his

assertion that social media networks are considered a strong base for terrorist

organizations to attract youth.

Major General, Fouad Allam, said during his interview with Youm7 Newspaper

that he will seek to shut down Facebook and Twitter by legal means, explaining

that social media networks are means for terrorist organizations to recruit the

youth and called on parents to hand over their extremist children to “national

security”.4

Investigations and rulings:

On August 28th, Editor in the Accidents Section of Al Bawaba News, Abdallah

Rashad, was arrested by the National Security in Giza, as he was going out from

the institution in Dokki last Thursday night. He was escorted to the National

Security premises in Sheikh Zayed. All communication with the colleague was lost

since his arrest. The Giza General Administration of Investigation denied the

occurrence of this incident. Even though the editor was taken to Dokki Police

Station before his deportation to the National Security premises in Sheikh Zayed,

as confirmed by unofficial security sources. Al Bawaba News communicated with

officials from the National Security premises in Giza to inquire about targeting the

editor and arresting him with no clear reasons and their response was “we don’t

know anything about him.”5

On August 22nd, the Arab Network for Human Rights Information(ANHRI),

condemned the arrest of Journalist, Hany Salah El-Din, by the security

authorities, less than a month later after he was exempted from claims of inciting

demonstrations in the case of Rabaa’s operating room. The Sot Al Omma

Newspaper had claimed in a news piece published on August 15th that Salah El-

Din stirred 3 journalists, referred to investigation at Youm7 Newspaper, to

4 Youm 7 Newspaper https://goo.gl/XckWBV 5 Al Bawaba News https://goo.gl/gocty4

https://goo.gl/XckWBV

https://goo.gl/gocty4



demonstrate in front of the syndicate's stairs and raise slogans condemning the

government and its media and press figures. Salah El-Din responded to those

allegations through his Facebook page, denying all charges and reassuring the fact

that he is not practicing any political activities due to restriction on the public

domain and his deteriorating medical condition. Following that, the fired

journalists from Youm7 Newspaper, Abdelrahman Maklad, Maher Abdelwahed

and Medhat Safwat, submitted a complaint to the journalists’ syndicate against

Chairman of the Board of directors of Sot Al Omma Newspaper, Al-Motaz Bellah

Abdelfatah, and Editor in Chief of the same newspaper, Adel Al-Sanhoury, for

publishing anonymous news “falsifying an incident that did not occur with the

purpose of disrupting the relationship between them and the state.”, and stating

that "Salah Al-Din stirred them to demonstrate", which did not happen and the

syndicate has not witnessed any demonstrations or protests on its stairs or raising

slogans condemning the state. 6

On August 14th, the Egyptian authorities blocked Reporters without Borders'

website, which is concerned with monitoring freedom of speech and expression,

without a court ruling or a public announcement of the blocking.7

The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has praised releasing

the Akhbar Al Youm's Journalist, Mohamed Al-Battawy, after spending two years

in a state of temporary arrest in Tora prison, due to a case of alleged charges by

National Security officers accusing him of joining an illegal group.8

6 The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) https://goo.gl/PZs17j

7 The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) https://goo.gl/m2sV5p 8 The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) https://goo.gl/xjJyBc

https://goo.gl/PZs17j

https://goo.gl/m2sV5p

https://goo.gl/xjJyBc



Political sphere

On August 19th, Chairman of the Board of Akhbar El-Youm Institution, Yasser Rizk,

called to launch an annual award for the perfect citizen in August of every year,

resembling the Public Figures of the Year, announced in December. During a

meeting of the National Press Authority on Saturday in Dar Al Tahrir, with the

leaders of the national press institutions, Rizk demanded that the institutions

submit the names of ten citizens who praised the value of chivalry or sacrifice. For

example, someone who saved a girl from rape or a trustworthy person who

returned a bag with precious belongings.9

On August 19th, President of the National Press Authority, Karam Gabr, confirmed

that Egyptians had experienced a significant change and that morals such as

chivalry, virility, generosity and helping others out disappeared. That was at the

opening of the fourth meeting of the National Press Authority with the chairmen

of the boards of national newspapers, which took place during the evening at the

Dar Al Tahrir for Printing and Publishing, under the title «The Role of the Press

and Media in the Reconstruction of the Egyptian Personality». Editor in Chief of Al

Gomhureya Newspaper, Abdelrazek Tawfik, confirmed that the reconstruction of

the Egyptian personality is the main base in the process of preventing the spread

of extremism and terrorism, pointing out a lot of downfalls, the most important of

which is the spreading of atonement experts of the world and the spread of

negative qualities such as cheating, defeatism, selfishness, negativity and the

targeting of the nation by its own citizens, stressing that if the homeland was

reconstructed, all conspiracies targeting Egypt will fail. On the other hand, First

Secretary of the National Press Authority, Abdallah Hassan, said that we should

focus on the positive aspects and assured the importance of the media's role.

Hassan added that the periodic meetings held by the authority came as a

response to President El-Sisi, after the last conference where he called upon the

media to do its patriotic duty and to rise to its responsibilities.10

9 Al Masry Al Youm Newspaper https://goo.gl/tjUL3J

10 Al Masry Al Youm Newspaper https://goo.gl/MiykN1

https://goo.gl/tjUL3J

https://goo.gl/MiykN1



On August 9th, The Egyptian Lebanese Businessmen Friendship Association held a

cultural evening under the title of "Media and Counterterrorism", where Editor in

Chief of Al Ahram, AlaaThabet, said: the media is responsible for addressing

different categories of the public and people of all segments, not to spread the

idea that terrorism is the engine of events. He continued stating that: there is an

American saying that says "the media is the terrorist’s best friend”, and

unfortunately it is a true saying, "which is what we discovered indeed in the

downfall of Iraq, Libya and Syria, they fell because of the rumors, which is what

some people are trying to do now in Egypt through their attempts to make the

media unsupportive of the Egyptian Government and constantly attacking it.11

On August 12th, President of Media Syndicate (under establishment), Hamdy El

Konayesi, said that the President Abdelfattah El-Sisi believes that the national

projects that are currently in progress need his efforts and his presence for a

second presidential term to complete them. El Konayesi added during his

interview with “Ala Mas'olity” TV program, presented by Ahmed Musa and aired

on Sada El-Balad TV channel, that: “sometimes projects stop when officials

change, he’s the most worthy and he has international relations that would allow

him to achieve extra gains for Egypt in the next session and he must know that he

has to announce running for president again.”, reaffirming: "who would be the

alternative but the converts or the 'sleeping cells' of the Muslim Brotherhood or

those controlled by foreign parties, and how could there be a competitor against

El-Sisi.” 12

The Supreme Council for Media and Press, and the National Press Authority

On august 4th, President of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, Makram

Mohamed Ahmed, said that there are many schemes that are being plotted

against Egypt, all of which are clear and do not need evidence, adding : "Every day

we witness bombings and terrorists attacks, victims from the army, the police and

civilians.”

11 Al Ahram Newspaper https://goo.gl/BzUdYP

12 Al Tahrir Newspaper https://goo.gl/WxHt8Q

https://goo.gl/BzUdYP

https://goo.gl/WxHt8Q



In statements to El-Shorouk Newspaper, Makram added that: “the citizens’ role in

reaffirming the pillars of the state is to be united in confronting terrorism, and not

to believe the rumors being spread without verifying them, in addition to

supporting national security in uncovering the conspirators who are sabotaging

Egypt and being righteous citizens, who keep the order and abide by the law.”

Commenting on the blocked websites' situation, the President of the Supreme

Council for Media Regulation said that most of the blocked websites belong to the

Brotherhood, more than 90% of them, and there are only about four websites for

which we are investigating the reasons and grounds of blocking, the objections

towards these websites. We are looking into this information.13

On August 6th, President of the National Press Authority, Karam Gabr, said that

the second meeting for the heads of the boards and editors in chief of national

newspapers, came out with several recommendations, the first of which is a code

of conduct. After the media became a means used by terrorist groups to

disseminate their ideas. The meeting also recommended not to exaggerate the

publication of photographs of the victims so as not to develop the feeling of

chaos, without downplaying or exaggerating the terrorist concerns. The

participants called for the establishment of a national observatory to monitor the

plans and operations of terrorism and to be a mean of destroying surfacing

rumors before their spreading, and the media would commit to not publishing

data or news originating from terrorist groups' sources. The participants also

stressed on the need to exploit the sacrifices of martyrs, and not to publish

pictures of funerals only; because behind each martyr, a story of bravery that

deserves to be published and spoken of.14

On August 12th, The National Press Authority held a meeting with the editors in

chief and boards of directors of the national press institutions at Akhbar Al Youm

13 Al Shorouk Newspaper https://goo.gl/xvzFTZ

14 Al Shorouk Newspaper https://goo.gl/w7E8nD

https://goo.gl/xvzFTZ

https://goo.gl/w7E8nD



Institution to further discuss the issuance of codes of conduct on publishing

ethics, regarding national issues. During his speech at the third consultative

meeting of the National Press Authority and the editors in chief of national

newspapers, Karam Gabr said that the committee will be composed of all national

Press institutions. The National Press Authority, editors in chiefs and boards of

directors of national press institutions has set a vision for the role of national

press in awakening Egypt's soft power.15

Journalists’ Syndicate

On August 4th, four members of the Journalists' Syndicate submitted a

memorandum to the Syndicate's President, Abdelmohsen Salama, in regards to

the issue of forged certificates, the four members, Gamal AbdelRehim, Mahmoud

Kamel, Mohamed Saad Abdelhafiz and Amr Badr, said in a press release: "We

were surprised by the statement our colleague made, member of the council, Abo

El-Seoud Mohamed, in which he pointed out that he was pressured to stop

working on the issue of forged certificates, which led to him excusing himself

from finishing his job, even though he did not mention throughout the council’s

last meeting that he is being pressured and only asked to be excused for

continuing his work on this issue without giving any reasons.” The members

noted that these statements have no other explanation than that he was either

being pressured from outside the council or from within the Council or that the

statements are unsupported, and in all cases, this suspicious issue needs to be

opened urgently in the next meeting of the council to reveal all its details before

the General Assembly and before all members of the council in the context of

openness and disclosure and that is the most inherent right of the Assembly that

has the highest authority.16

On August 16th, President of Journalist's Syndicate, Abdelmohsen Salama,

confirmed that the revolution of January 25th ruined everything for Egyptian

journalism and caused a lot of losses to all the national Egyptian newspapers, as

well as private or partisan newspapers in a way that made all Egyptian

15 Youm 7 Newspaper https://goo.gl/CwsZfJ

16 Al Masry Al Youm https://goo.gl/CyWr5g

https://goo.gl/CwsZfJ

https://goo.gl/CyWr5g



newspapers suffer. In a press release to Al Masry al Youm Newspaper, Salama

added that all Egyptian newspapers suffered huge losses up to billions after the

revolution, which harmed Egyptian journalism and caused newspapers to suffer

from excess labor, high prices and printing costs, as well as the closure of a large

number of newspapers and the displacement of journalists.17

On August 18th, President of Journalist's Syndicate and Chairman of the Board of

Directors of Al Ahram Institution, Abdelmohsen Salama, announced the increase

of journalists' allowance by 300 Egyptian Pounds.18

On August 21st, Chairman of the Freedoms Committee of the Journalists’

Syndicate, Ibrahim Abo Kila, said that the syndicate’s council referred a complaint,

submitted by journalists against the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sot Al

Omma, Al Moataz Bellah Abdelfattah, and the Editor in Chief of the same

newspaper, Adel El Sanhury, to investigation. In addition, Abdelrahman Maklad,

Maher Abdelwahed and Medhat Safwat accused Sot Al Omma of publishing

anonymous news “falsifying an incident that did not occur with the purpose of

disrupting their relationship with the state.” The journalists stated in their

complaint that the newspaper published “that a member of the Muslim

Brotherhood terrorist group incited them to demonstrate on the stairs of the

syndicate on Tuesday August 15th, during a meeting of the syndicate's council to

discuss their complaint against the Editor in Chief of Youm 7 Newspaper, adding

that what was published in the newspaper “is a groundless news, as the syndicate

has not witnessed any demonstrations or protests on its stairs nor raising anti-

state slogans".19

17 Al Masry Al Youm https://goo.gl/iRhcqs

18 Al Masry Al Youm https://goo.gl/ncsL8Y

19 Al Masry Al Youm https://goo.gl/xJ1V8p

https://goo.gl/iRhcqs

https://goo.gl/ncsL8Y

https://goo.gl/xJ1V8p



Prevention of Coverage, and Verbal and Physical Attacks on Journalists:

On August 12th, Cairo Criminal Court, held at the Fifth Settlement, witnessed

verbal altercations between the parents of 41 defendants, in the case of

“trafficking of human organs”, and media outlets inside the courtroom, in

addition to addressing insults to the journalists, and some of the families

assaulting the photojournalists saying “We will break the cameras and no one will

take any pictures of us.”20

On August 6th, Journalists’ Syndicate Council, headed by Abdelmohsen Salama,

decided to submit a communication to the Attorney General against the President

of Zamalek Sporting Club, Counselor Mortada Mansour, as an escalation against

the latter in case he carries on with his violations against the journalists who are

members in the club - and who are Members of the General Assembly of Zamalek

Sporting Club. The statement issued from the Journalists’ Syndicate said: "There

has been a significant increase in complaints submitted by fellow journalists

regarding the behavior of the President of Zamalek Sporting Club, Mortada

Mansour, and his consequent and unjustified decisions, in regards to exercising

their right to be in their club, being in violation of all the existing regulations and

laws".21

On August 12th, the Complaints Committee of the Supreme Council for Media

Regulation held a meeting, headed by the President of the Council, Makram

Mohamed Ahmed. During the meeting, the committee discussed 3 petitions

submitted by Al Nahar, Al Asema and L.T.C TV channels, in regards to the

sanctions that the council imposed upon Sabaya El Kheir, Enferad and Sah El-

Noom TV Programs. The committee decided to reduce the duration of the penalty

for Sabaya El Kheir from four to two weeks, in addition to a warning to the

channel. However, the committee expressed its appreciation of the humane role

and efforts presented in many of the program's previous episodes. As for the

petition submitted by Al Asema Channel, the committee decided on suspending

the program Enferad for the duration of one month, and keeping the warning

issued for the channel. The committee also expressed its appreciation of the 20 Al Ahram https://goo.gl/WkydXJ

21 Al Mogaz https://goo.gl/B5j7vR

https://goo.gl/WkydXJ

https://goo.gl/B5j7vR



channel’s administration stand, in regards to setting standards for media

performance, to execute and abide by it. The committee also sent a letter of

warning to the presenter of the Program Sah El Noom, Mohamed El Gheity, and

to L.T.C TV Channel.22

On August 26th, the Complaints Committee of the Supreme Council for Media

Regulation, headed by Gamal Shawky Sharobeem, received two complaints, one

from the President of El-Mansoura University, against one of the programs of Al

Asema TV Channel, and the other from the President of the Reform and

Development Party, Mohamed Anwar Esmat El-Sadat, against the collagues

Dandarawy El Hawary and Hazem Hussein of Youm 7 Newspaper. The President of

El-Mansoura University submitted a complaint against one of the programs of Al

Asema, as one of the guests on the program publicly accused some of the

university's researchers of fabrications in their researches. On the other hand,

Mohamed Anwar El Sadat accused the two journalists of Youm 7 Newspaper of

offending the party and himself, as they mentioned that he is a supporter of “the

Brotherhood” and volatile.23

Censorship on Content

On August 5th, during its meeting, the Complaints Committee of the Supreme

Council for Media Regulation has recommended to refer journalists Mohamed El

Gheity and Bassma Wahba, presenter of the show Sheikh El Hara aired on Al

Qahera Wal Nas TV Channel, to investigation, upon the complaint put forward by

TV Presenter, Ahmed Musa, against El Gheity because of the views he had

expressed in the program as a host. The committee has also recommended

drawing the attention of Al Qahera Wal Nas TV Channel's management not to

direct any offense of any kind, and under any name to its audience, and to take

the necessary measures to avoid the reoccurrence of such incidents, or the

committee might have to interfere and take further actions if this occurs;

22 Al Ahram https://goo.gl/Wv3BPv

23 Al Masry Al Youm https://goo.gl/pi3fqZ

https://goo.gl/Wv3BPv

https://goo.gl/pi3fqZ



considering that this is not relevant to the freedom of speech and expression. In

regards with the complaint put forward by the Ministry of Supply against TV

Presenter, Ahmed Musa, for denying the right to respond in the supply

commodities case, the committee has recommended to send the show a letter

drawing its attention to the audience's right to know and to receive all the

information, as well as the concerned entities’ right to respond, in accordance

with the law. As for the complaint put forward by a lady who was affected by

publishing news in daily and digital newspapers about her husband and the

ongoing investigations with him in a financial case, the committee called upon

newspapers to hide the defendant’s name and picture, and to only publish his

initials until the issuance of a verdict; taking into consideration the family and

children’s reputation. Regarding Engineer Abeer Fouad’s complaint against Al

Ashera Masaan TV Program, presented by Wael Al Ebrashy on Dream TV Channel,

the committee has recommended referring the program's crew to the Media

Syndicate. 24

On August 2nd, the committee decided suspending the program Enferad,

presented by Saeed Hasasin and aired on Al Asema TV channel, for a month, as

well as sending a warning to the channel; after the guests exchanged profanity

during one of its episodes, and offending a number of Arab Countries. The

committee has also issued a warning to Al Nahar TV Channel upon violations by

Dody Show and Sabaya Al Kheir Programs. Two days earlier, this decision was

preceded by another decision by the Media Syndicate banning the appearance of

both presenters for 3 months.25

On August 9th, Chairman of the Complaints Committee of the Supreme Council for

Media Regulation, Gamal Shawky, stated that the committee has approved the

executive regulations establishing its work, which serves as working methods for

the committees within the council, issuing licenses for newspapers,

communicating with the audience, and assessing and monitoring media. He also

24 Al Shorouk https://goo.gl/v867Ut

25 Al Bawaba https://goo.gl/r5pcDJ

https://goo.gl/v867Ut

https://goo.gl/r5pcDJ



pointed out that the council received apologies from all the channels against

which sanctions were issued.26

On August 5th, in regards with Engineer Abeer Fouad’s complaint against Al

Ashera Masaan Program, presented by Wael Al Ebrashy, the Complaints

Committee of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation recommended referring

the program’s crew to the Media Syndicate. The Complaints Committee stated

that, regarding the complaint put forward by a lady who was harmed by

publishing news in daily and digital newspapers about arresting her husband and

the ongoing investigations with him in a financial case, the committee calls upon

newspapers to hide the defendant’s name and picture and to only publish his

initials until the issuance of a verdict, taking into consideration the family and

children’s reputation, stressing on the fact that the prosecution is the only

investigating authority that has the right to publish the investigations.27

On August 9th, Member of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, Huda

Zakareya, PhD, stated that last week the council decided to hold intensive

meetings with producers, authors, experienced TV presenters, critics and

whoever has previous experience to establish a new media discourse, noting that

all these teams will be eventually aggregated in a conference named “Towards a

New Media Discourse”. After a meeting of the council, Zakareya carried "the

council has to has a productive role in establishing a new media discourse, back in

the sixties we have witnessed the television play a role in raising awareness,

entertainment, and enlightening spectators, adding that there was a thick filter

for media content. However, later, we have witnessed the big number of channels

and presenters who participated in the decay of media content.28

26 Masrawy https://goo.gl/ADX7pt

27 Youm 7 https://goo.gl/tRwERF

28 Al Ahram https://goo.gl/KD8dw2

https://goo.gl/ADX7pt

https://goo.gl/tRwERF

https://goo.gl/KD8dw2



On August 26th, Chairman of the National Press Authority, Karam Gabr,

announced the authority’s intention to establish an observatory to face lies and

rumors, in cooperation with National Newspapers Institutions and the

Information and Decision Support Center of the Council of Ministers, to combat

the phenomenon of rumors aiming to undermine the state’s stability and

security.29

Economic sphere

On August 6th, President of the National Press Authority, Karam Gabr, said that

the workers have not been compromised, neither have been their salaries in the

national institutions. He also assured the importance of coordinating between

financial and executive regulations in the institutions. On the sidelines of the

Establishment of the State Conference, held by the authority with Editors in Chief

and Boards of Directors of the Newspapers on Saturday evening at Al Ahram

Institution's Premises, Gabr added: "We have started the first phase, which is

revenues, expenditure and the gap, and we have requested an annual plan spread

on four phases, to close the gap, increase revenues and cut expenditures”. He

stated that the plan is ready for execution, and that the government will assist

with consultancy, referring to the fact that the institution has a fund to support

press institutions, however this is subject to their commitment and seriousness

regarding the reform plan. He also noted that the institutions have put forward

good ideas to multiply the distribution points and looking for new means to be at

the places that have the ability to purchase, clarifying that the target is between

2200 and 3500 distribution outlets, which is still not enough.30

29 Al Masry Al Youm https://goo.gl/We4idy

30 Al Shorouk https://goo.gl/i4sVuk

https://goo.gl/We4idy

https://goo.gl/i4sVuk



Media sphere

Saturday August 19th, Actor Amr Youssef expressed his gratitude and appreciation

to the TV Presenter Iman El Hosary, for discussing his issue and the rumors that

he and his wife, Kinda Aloush, have been subject to. Some rumors had been

circulated that they have been detained for possession of narcotic substances.

Youssef said: “Thank you for your organized way of speech and decent mindset",.

During a call in on Masaa’ DMC TV Program, aired on the DMC TV channel,

Youssef added that the issue is a lot bigger than himself; it is considered an issue

of looking for traffic on social media websites, clarifying that his fans did not

believe the rumors because they trust him.

Youssef said that the person who claimed to be a police officer and provided the

news was detained and had just been released two months ago, adding "he will

be brought to justice once again, but that does not excuse the journalists".31

Role of Civil Society

Publications:

On August 10th, the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expressions (AFTE)

published its quarterly report on the situation of freedom of expression in Egypt,

for the second quarter of the year 2017 (April-June). The reports preview a

general image for the variety of developments that have been witnessed on the

issues that AFTE has been working on. The association documented 108 violations

against the freedom of press and media, 169 violations against digital freedom of

expression and 44 violations against freedom of creativity.

This report emphasizes the role of the Parliament in adapting legislations and very

hostile reactions to freedom of expression; whether through the proposed laws

on digital crime and the use of social media, or by obscuring the content of the

draft law regulating the press and media. The report also focuses on the security

interventions in the work of journalists, creators and prosecutions of users of

31 Al Masry Al Youm https://goo.gl/LHm3AT

https://goo.gl/LHm3AT



social media websites. Some sovereign authorities seek to obtain users' data from

private transport companies (Uber and Careem), which is an incident that raises

concerns about the widespread violation of the right to privacy, particularly if

these efforts develop to force companies to transfer their clients' data to the

security services, through a possible legislation that is claimed to protect national

security.

It seems through both freedom of creativity, and freedom of press and media

sections, that the media entities and authorities formed over the past few months

have been focusing on exercising a wide-ranged monitoring role and creating

additional restrictions on media related work and creative works. As it seems that

the Supreme Council for Media Regulation is fighting an open battle in defense of

the so-called “ethics and traditions”, which adds pressure on satellite TV channels

and entities such as the Media Syndicate to impose restrictions on media

personnel and creators in order to keep up with this new policy adopted by the

Supreme Council for Media Regulation.

What is striking is that the Supreme Council for Media Regulation is also trying to

draft a law on the exchange of information. However, it is still not clear whether

this draft law will reflect the state institutions’ directions, represented in

considering the availability of information as a threat to national security, or

whether it will respond to initiatives, presented by civil society and journalists,

defending a law that promotes and protects the right to information.

Generally, violations continued on both judicial and disciplinary levels against

categories, such as university professors, journalists, public television employees,

students and users of social media, which are incidents documented in the report,

included the incident of Suez University Professor, Mona El Brens. El Brens has

been referred to investigations upon posting a video of her dancing in her house,

on her personal profile on the social media website “Facebook”. The university

referred her to investigation on the charges of "publishing sites and images on

her profiles on social networking websites, not committing to teaching the

scientific curriculum at the Faculty of Education, appearing in several TV programs

without the permission of the university, making statements contradicting to

university traditions and values, as well as to public order and ethics; which

contradicts the role of a university professor, and finally the delay in receiving



delivering materials”. As it would seem that university administration did not

want to accuse El Brens only of publishing the video, so it added administrative

and academic charges to justify her referral to investigation without being

accused of interfering in her personal life.

Disciplinary and judicial investigations are being used as an attempt to control the

final platform allowing freedom of expression; the internet. The accusations

directed to the afore mentioned cases are based on opinions they had expressed

on social media websites, which indicates different forms of surveillance

exercised by governmental and security authorities. This hostile approach

towards the internet was also clear through the phenomenon of blocking media

and journalism websites, which escalated in the second quarter of the year 2017

to reach 113 blocked websites, before this figure increases even more afterwards.

Security sources did not deny the state’s hand in blocking these websites; instead

they used what happens in China and North Korea as an example. And that is

considered another indicator of the use of unusual practices in Egypt to combat

the final platform that safely allows freedom of speech.32

On August 27th, the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI)

published a research study named "Royalty Press, How did Saudi Media

Dominate?". The study includes an explanation for controlling the Arab media or

a large proportion of it by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through owning media

outlets, newspapers, news channels, and satellite entertainment channels. The

study also answers a number of questions related to the reasons behind spending

Saudi money on Arab media, particularly Egyptian media; is it just an investment

or does it have other agendas such as promoting political views for example?, and

do media outlets owned by Saudi businessmen or royalty perform and objective

media role or do they aim to pass certain messages?33

32 The Association of Freedom of Thought and Expressions (AFTE) https://goo.gl/T7sLcF

33 The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) https://goo.gl/F21mf6

https://goo.gl/T7sLcF

https://goo.gl/F21mf6



Events

On August 26th, the National Council for Women concluded a 3 day workshop for

media workers named “The Role of Media in Combating Violence against

Women... Identifying the Ethical Code of Media”. The workshop targeted a

number of female and male journalists, and editors of radio and TV programs,

who are concerned with women’s issues, and was held within the framework of a

project on violence free and safe cities, in cooperation with The United Nations

Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.34

34 Al Masry Al Youm https://goo.gl/g2usc2

https://goo.gl/g2usc2

21 Abd El-Mgeed El-Ramaly st, 7th �loor,Flat 71, Falaki square,Downtown, Cairo, Egypt

Tel./Fax. : +202795881

www.ecpps.org

Monthly Observation

Freedom of Media

in EgyptReport

August 2017

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