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Alert

Journalist to be questioned by military intelligence over book on economic mismanagement and corruption

(ANHRI/IFEX) - According to information received by ANHRI, on 5 July 2008 the journalist and writer Abd El Khaliq Farouq was notified that he must appear on 8 July at the quarters of the Military Prosecutor General, to answer questions about his most recent book, "Indictment Petition". Initially, the Military Security Agency had sent a letter to the Lawyers' Union asking for him to appear on 2 July, but since it was delivered to Farouq too late, the investigative hearing was rescheduled for 8 July.

"Indictment Petition" is a collection of Farouq's articles, which were published in various Arab and Egyptian newspapers. In most of these articles, Farouq addressed how financial resources are misused, and how corruption prevails in the economic sector.

ANHRI is concerned that military intelligence is conducting an investigation of a civilian journalist and writer, especially given that the book in question does not deal with matters related to military intelligence.

ANHRI plans to attend the investigation with Farouq and to challenge the legitimacy of the military investigation.

Farouq won the State Incentive Award for the year 2003 in Economic and Legal Science, as well as an academic award in scientific research and technology in 2003.