Press Statement
The Egyptian human rights organizations signatories to this joint statement express their condemnation of the judgment passed yesterday by the Court of Appeals ordaining the imprisonment of the editor-in-chief of the private daily Al Doustour newspaper, Ibrahim Eissa for two months. They underline their absolute solidarity with the journalist and all detained journalists and prisoners of conscience. They perceive this judgment as a documentation of the persisting violations by the Egyptian government of freedom of the press and a sustained furthering of the anti-freedoms approach adopted by the Egyptian regime.
Egyptian human rights organizations pinpointed that the duration of the trial – one whole year, offered a new chance for the Egyptian government to reconcile with its own citizens and make up for the numerous erroneous acts. These very acts lead to an increase in popular anger and rejection of the government for its repressive approach in handling the events and major issues occurring in Egypt. The Egyptian government is also responsible for ensuring Egypt heeds the voice of rights and laws and reconcile with the demanders of freedoms and rights enshrined in the Egyptian Constitution and the international instruments to which Egypt is a party. This judgment, however, is a huge disappointment for the aspirations of many observers of the human rights situation in Egypt and the Arab world. It comes at a time when positive developments materialized in the amnesty decision and release of some detainees for cases similar to Eissa’s in that they depict the head of the state. The Yemeni President issued amnesty few days ago for Abdel Karim Al-Khiwany, a journalist who was sentenced to 6 year imprisonment, Few months earlier, King Mohammad VI of Morocco passed amnesty decision for Fouad Mortada, who phished the character of the King’s brother on Facebook.
It was expected that President Mubarak would issue an amnesty decision for the journalist Ibrahim Eissa – to be in line with his promises to abolish imprisonment of journalists. Top officials have also delivered statements expressing their support for the freedom of opinion and expression as well as the press. The President has repeatedly expressed his support for the freedom of expression and the press and abolishing criminalization of publication cases and put an end to journalist detention. The judgment, nonetheless, disappointed observers and advocates of freedom of the press as well as the freedom of opinion and expression.
Therefore, the herein undersigned Egyptian human rights organizations call upon the Egyptian government to interfere to abolish the judgment passed against the journalist Ibrahim Eissa and fulfill the presidential promises to end imprisonment in publication cases, they also call for providing safeguards for journalists and media professionals – fundamental components of development and good governance. Development cannot be achieved without ensuring support for the “Fourth Authority” undertaking the significant role of spreading transparency and fighting abuse of power leading to the outbreak of corruption wasting the resources of peoples. This cannot be achieved unless through respecting all fundamental rights of citizenship.
Signatory Organizations:
1. AlNadeem Center for Remedy & psychological Rehabilitation for violence Victims
2. Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies
3. Association for Human Rights Legal Aid
4. Cairo Institute for Human Rights
5. Hesham Mubarak Law Center
6. Justice Supporters Association for Human Rights
7. Maat for juridical and constitutional studies
8. New Woman Research Center
9. Protection Center For Supporting Human Rights Activists
10. The American Islamic Congress
11. The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
12. The Center for Trade Union and Workers’ Services
13. The Egyptian Association for Community Participation development
14. The Egyptian Center for Woman’s Rights
15. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
16. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
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