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A new relapse for freedom of opinion and expression
El Wafd party's chairman sentenced to imprisonment
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29/10/2007
Asuoat Misdemeanor court pronounced its decision in case No. 7844 -2007 that is one month imprisonment against Mahmoud Abaza - El Wafd party's chairman - as he is El Wafd chairman of the board, Anwar El Hawary, - El Wafd editor in chief, Junes Darweesh, - El Wafd reporter because of committing libel and defaming two citizens in Asuoat.
The suit was brought against the mentioned people by two lawyers who were informed that El Wafd issued a report concerning the purchasing of a plot of land possessed by religious endowment authority according to auction which is not performed in a legal way, they confirmed that what has been issued is considered libel and defaming in their right.
EOHR confirms its steady situation for appreciating Egyptian judiciary. It expresses its deepest condemnation concerning issuing negative punishments about freedom in opinion and expression's cases in order to abide by freedom of opinion and expression which is considered a main support for the democratic society .
According to the Egyptian Constitution and the international covenants relating to freedom of opinion and expression which were ratified by the Egyptian Government and became part and parcel of its interior law on the bases of Article 151 from institution ,EOHR calls for all institutions, the efficiency of civil society and the Journalists' Syndicate to stand together against this attack which violates the freedom of the press, releasing a national campaign including professors of media, parties' representatives,
professions syndicates' representatives and all who are interested in freedom of opinion and expression from active society power in order to push the Government to amend the legislation structure of freedom of the press by canceling all negative punishments for freedom in publishing crimes which are considered a threat for journalists' life and security and a main restriction to their right to get information or to express about their opinions and expressions.
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