The International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) today expressed grave concern over the suspension of Jamal
Abdel Rahim, editor in chief of daily El Joumhouryia, by the Chairman of the Egyptian
Shura Council.
The suspension came after the state-owned paper published news on the
travel-ban of former defence minister Field Marshal
Hussein Tantawi and General Sami Anan, both under investigation for corruption.
The Egyptian Journalists Syndicate (EJS)
has strongly condemned the suspension describing it as "a dangerous precedent
and a violation of both the Egyptian Journalists' Syndicate law and the Press and
Publications law". It also said the decision was a flagrant aggression
against the authority
of the union as
the only body
authorised to investigate professional misconduct, in accordance with Article 34 of the Press Law. The Shura Council will discuss the case during its
session at the beginning of November, and take a final decision.
The IFJ considers the government's
interference in journalists' affairs as deplorable. "We support the Egyptian
Syndicate and the journalists in their fight against intimidation and
interference of journalists' work, and call on the Egyptian authorities to
reinstate the suspended editor." said Jim Boumelha, IFJ President.
This decision is considered politically
motivated, and based on the change of the newspaper's editorial line with the
appointment of Jamel Abdel Rahim as editor in chief two months ago. Other newspapers in Egypt- both state-owned
and private - covered the same story, prior to and
after Al Joumhourya's report without being targeted.
The EJS, which is calling for an urgent
general assembly on Sunday 18 November to discuss attacks on the press, media
independence, the country's new constitution and its media related provisions
said the intimidation campaign against journalists will not deviate journalists
from their demands, including: a new Constitution that guarantees press
freedom, the abolishment of jail sentences for press offences, an
end to newspapers closures, and the
creation of a national council
that manages the affairs of the press and enjoys full autonomy from the
state.
For more
information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 05
The IFJ represents more
than 600.000 journalists in 134 countries
