London – January 18, 2017
(Ikshef) – Annual report of Arab Media Freedom Monitor “Ikshef” shows increasing oppression against press freedom in Egypt during 2016.
There were 1281 violations Ikshef could document. They are 129 cases of imprisonment and temporary detention, 95 abuses in prisons, 440 trials and complaints, 126 physical abuses, 225 preventions of coverage, 50 cases of stopping of TV stations and programs and banning of articles, 13 travel bans and arrests, 22 restrictive legislations and media gags, and 152 layoffs.
Number of jailed journalists and media worker was 98 people by the end of the year.
The report adds that 2016 has witnessed attacks by regime against its own supporters in the media field. 2016 started with the closure of Al-Fraeen TV channel owned by Tawfeeq Okasha, and ended with stopping the program of TV anchor Ibrahim Essa. During the year, many programs were stopped for various periods for many other media people known for their support for the current ruling regime in Egypt.
Ikshef annual report documented the most notable violations including security forces’ storming of Egyptian Journalists’ Syndicate, referring three of EJS leaders to trial and sentencing them to two years in jail, in addition to the issuance of a law giving more control for executive power on media institutions, in violation of the constitutions.
