Joint action

Free expression organisations express support for targeted newspaper

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(EOHR/IFEX) - 13 October 2010 - The undersigned human rights organizations express their full solidarity with Al Dostour's journalists and Ibrahim Essa, editor-in-chief of the newspaper. They appeal to all civil society organizations to not only guarantee the journalists' rights but to combat the government's plan to impose restrictions on independent mass media ahead of the parliamentary elections.

The organizations express their deepest worries over the restrictions imposed on freedom of opinion and expression in general and Al Dostour newspaper in particular. Some of the restrictions and arbitrary measures include the stopping of the Al Qahra Al Youm program and the broadcast of the Al Badr satellite channel and censorship imposed on Al Dastour.

This crackdown extended to untraditional media when the government subjected mobile news messages to restrictions and prevented this service unless prior permission is obtained from the Ministry of Information and the Press Supreme Council.

The undersigned organizations called for concerted efforts to combat the crackdown on freedoms which should be curtailed if the government wants to prove its willingness to run fair elections.

Signed,

Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
8/10 Mathaf El Manial St
Manial El Roda
Cairo
Egypt
eohr (@) link.net
Phone: +20 22 3636811/3620467
Fax: +20 22 3621613

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies

Non-IFEX member signatories:

HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION FOR ASSISTANCE OF PRISONERS
EL ARD CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
HESHAM MUBARAK CENTER FOR LEGAL PROFESSION
THE EGYPTIAN ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION ENHANCEMENT
THE ARAB ORGANIZATION FOR CRIMINAL IMPROVEMENT
ALAM WAHED INSTITUTION
AWLAD AL ARD CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
ARAB CENTER FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF JUDICIARY AND LEGAL PROFESSION
THE EGYPTIAN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
THE EGYPTIAN CENTER FOR SUPPORTING CITIZENSHIP
THE EGYPTIAN DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTION
THE DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP
CENTER FOR TRADE UNION AND WORKERS SERVICES
AL KALMA CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
THE NEW INSTITUTION FOR WOMAN
THE GROUP OF LEGAL SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
AL ANDALAS CENTER FOR TOLERANCE
AL ADALA CENTER FOR DEFENDING RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
THE ARAB ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
THE ARAB CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT
THE ARAB COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THE FAIR TRIAL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
THE EGYPTIAN ASSOCIATION FOR PARTICIPATION AND DEVELOPMENT
THE EGYPTIAN ASSOCIATION FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE EGYPTIAN CENTER FOR WOMEN