Committee to Protect Journalists promises to continue efforts for the release of prisoners.
New York – May 10, 2016
(Ikshef) – Arab Media Freedom Monitor “Ikshef” hold a meeting with Committee to Protect Journalists “CPJ”, and tackled violations against media freedom in Egypt.
CPJ delegation headed by Mr. Jason Stern, MENA Senior Research Associate in CPJ, met Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sharqawy, on behalf of Ikshef who provided the committee with the report on first quarter of 2016 which covers violations against press and media freedom in Egypt, as well as the annual report for 2015 which included names of 11 journalists and photographers who were killed by the army and police, since July 3, 2013 and till now; as well as a list of 89 journalists and media workers who are currently jailed by court orders or on remand.
Ikshef delegation also submitted a list of violations against press work and of suppression of freedoms and preventing visits to imprisoned journalists and preventing patients from receiving proper medical treatment. This is beside the closure of tens of TV channels and blocking transmission of others, and closure of opposition newspapers and websites, and stop printing of articles and newspaper issues.
Mr. Jason has confirmed that he met the Egyptian Attorney General and some officials months ago, and that he spoke to them about the importance of releasing journalists and media staff who are prisoners of conscience. However, he said that the authorities in Egypt shirk their responsibilities. But he also stressed that the CPJ will continue defending the rights of all journalists especially imprisoned ones until all of them are released.
