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EOHR calls for the enactment of President Mubarak decision to cancel the imprisonment penalty for journalists
17/6/2004
EOHR shares its worries concerning the continuation of issuing imprisonment sentences against journalists. On Wednesday the 16th of June 2004, Cairo Criminal Court issued a two-year imprisonment sentence to the journalist/Ahmed Ez Aldin, and a fine of amount 20,000 LE, for insulting Dr Youssif Wali the deputy prime minister and the minister of agriculture.
Dr Youssif Wali presented a report to the Prosecutor General convicting Ahmed Ez Aldin of insulting him through a campaign carried by "Al Osboa" newspaper.
The Prosecutor General transferred the case to Cairo Criminal Court which issued the sentence mentioned above.
EOHR confirms its respect to the judicial decisions, and views the decision of the Criminal Court as an obstacle against the freedom of _expression and opinion.
Accordingly, EOHR calls the judicial authorities to enact the decision made by President Mubarak to cancel the imprisonment sentence against journalists to insure the freedom of journalism and media in Egypt.
EOHR sees that the legal procedures against journalists who breach the Journalist's Honesty Statute should be restricted to applying pre-determined fines.
EOHR call the Journalists' Syndicate to apply the Journalist's Honesty Statute and to apply penalties to those who violate the articles of the Statute.
With compliments
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
8/10 Mathaf El Manial St,Manial El Roda , Cairo, Egypt
Tel: (02) 363 6811 / (02) 362 0467
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