Ikshef’s Report on Egypt’s Violations against Media Freedoms in January 2017

28 journalists and media workers on terror list without trial

Intransigence against Jailed patients and continuation of physical abuses

London – Feb 5, 2017

(Ikshef) – In the awake of 2017, Egyptian press has faced many violations in January, most notably adding names of 28 journalists and media workers on terror list, confiscating their money, banning them of travel and confiscating their passports, all that without trial or defending themselves.

There has been 112 violations in January, with an increase of 3 cases more than December 2016, meaning or systematic crackdown on press and journalists, a continuation of violations of 2016 that has started in July 3^rd 2013.

January has witnessed imprisonment and taking into custody 8 journalists and releasing of 3 others.

Violations in prisons, complaints against journalists, physical abuses, media gags and banning of articles’ publishing have continued.

Detentions, forced disappearances and releases: 8 Cases

There were 8 cases of imprisonment and temporary detentions, most notably sentencing journalist Hussein Abdul-Halim of Al-Dostor newspaper for 3 months in prison and fining him 20,000 pounds (about 1100 $) after charging him of spreading false news about ministry of interiors.

Also, 4 journalists of Al-Badil newspaper were taken into custody, besides temporarily detaining both Ahmed Mohammed Mostafa Baiyomi head of art section in Al-Deyar newspaper, and Ehab Al-Maleh correspondent of “10 P.M.” program on Dream TV. Moreover, journalist Mohammed Al-Yamani faced forced disappearance.

Releases: 2 cases

Ahmed Fouad correspondent of Karmoz website was released after spending 3 years in prison, Also journalist Abdul-Rahman Taher of Zoom News website was released.

Violations in prisons: 8 cases

Violations in prisons continued. Journalist Hamdy Mokhtar “Al-Zaeem” suffered a stroke leading him to be unable to speak or move, besides suffering a severe injury in the foot. He underwent a surgery in his cell after prison administration refused to move him to a hospital. Other medical cases like Hany Salah’s and others continued.

Also, Ahmed Mohammed Mostafa Baiyomi head of art section in Al-Deyar newspaper managed to send a message revealing that he faced physical abuse by criminal prisoners resulting in wounding him in the head by a knife by orders from police officers.

Additionally, detainees were not permitted to go to toilets for many hours, as happened with journalist Abdul-Rahman Shahin.

Trials and complaints: 64 cases

January witnessed 64 trials and complaints, most notably a ruling to seize money of 28 journalists and media worker among a much larger list including more than 1500 figures. Cases included also renewal of imprisonments of journalists, complaints and adjourning of trials, as happened in cases of journalists Hisham jaafar, Ismail Al-Iskandarani, Hamdi Mokhtar, Mohammed Hassan and Osama Al-Beshbeshi, and others. The case known as “Rabaa operation chamber” that include a number of journalists was adjourned till May 8 to issue the ruling. Complaints by former justice ministers Ahmed Al-Zend and former judge Mortada Mansour against journalists and media workers continued.

Coverage Ban: 20 cases

There were 20 coverage bans in January mainly in courts and government institutions, most notably bannge coverage of trial of Muslim Brotherhood supreme leader Dr. Mohammed Badei and Dr. Abdullah Shehata the former minister of finance in the government of president Mohammed Morsi. Also, coverage of Pope Tawadros’s visit to Tanta and Christmas’ mass in Aswan were banned.

Banning of coverge and events took place most at the staircase in front of Egyptian Journalists’ Syndicate. Coverage also were banned in Opera House, Cairo airport, cabinet, in addition to a number of clubs and other institutions.

Physical abuses and raids: 9 cases

Physical abuses continued in January and 9 cases were documented, most notably the attack by Ahmed Mujahed, the director of office of the Minister of Higher Education and, as he had beaten journalist Tawfik Shaaban of Al_Watan newspaper during the coverage of a press conference of the minister.

Also, a number of citizens in village 56 at Belqas town in Dakahlia province attacked correspondent Basma Al-Najjar of Mashakel Al-Nas (or “people problems”) program, broadcast on Sout Masr channel. This is as well as the daily attacks and other raids, including raiding the office of Al-Seha Wal-Gamal satellite channel.

Publishing bans: 3 cases

January witnessed 3 publishing bans. Al-Ahram newspaper refused to publish a paid obituary by the family of counselor Wael Shalabi, Secretary-General of the State Council, who was found hanged in custody. Also, the online edition of Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper removed an article by journalist and writer Jamal Al-Jamal.  The third case was a threat by Egyptian television to remove scenes of former national team player Mohammed Abu Trika.

Closures of Programs: 4 cases

There were 4 cases in January of closures of programs. Al-ahera Aal-Nas satelite channel announced stopping “With Ibrahim Eissa” program presented by media anchor Ibrahim Issa, a step Ikshef referred to referred last month. Also, Rotana Masriya satellite channel stopped “Akher Al-Osboa” program presented by Bassel Adel and “Men Al-Akher” presented by Mohammad Al-Aqabi without disclosing the reasons. This is as well as another case related to media anchor Jaber Al-Qarmouti.

Media gags: 2 cases

There wer 2 media gags in January, as Supreme Judiciary Council decided to ban judges, councilors and prosecutors of publishing any news related to judiciary on socil media netorks. This is beside media gag in the case known as “the biggest bribe”.

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Below is an updated list of detained journalists in Egypt till Jan. 31, 2016 (97 Journalists):

1. Mahmoud Hussain, Al-Jazeera news network
2. Mosaab Hamed, Misr 25 TV channel
3. Reem Qotb Jabarah, independent film director
4. Mohammed Farag, freelance journalist
5. Nabil Al-Ashri, editor of Mubasher website
6. Mohammed Al-Shaer, of Mubasher website
7. Mohammed Salah Sharar, Qatari Al-Watan
8. Hamdi Abdul-Aziz (Zoomnews)
9. Hamdi Al-Zaaem (Al-Hayat)
10. Mohammed Hassan (Al-Nabaa Al-Watani)
11. Osama Al-Beshbeshi (Baladi website)
12. Mohammed Haz (Freelance journalist)
13. Omar Adel (Zoom News website)
14. Magdi Ahmed Hussein (Editor of Al-Shaab Al-Jadeed)
15. Hani Salah Al-Din (Managing editor of Youm7)
16. Hisham Jaafar (MADA)
17. Ismail Al-Iskandrani (Freelance journalist)
18. Mohammed Al-jenidi (Freelance journalist)
19. Hussein Abdul-Halim of Al-Dostor)
20. Ahmed Sebaie (Head of Al-Aqsa TV office in Egypt)
21. Hassan Al-Qabbani (Al-Karama newspaper)
22. Mohammed Saber Al-Batawi (Al-Akhbar)
23. Ibrahim Al-Dadrawi (Al-Qawmiya for distribution)
24. Mohsen Radi (Al-Daawa)
25. Said Abu Haj (Sinai Media Center)
26. Amr Al-Khafif (Former director of broadcast engineering in ERTU)
27. Emad Abu Zaid (Al-Ahram)
28. Mohammed Abossoul (Akhbar Al-Youm)
29. Abdo Desuqi (Ikhwanweb)
30. Mohammed Ibrahim Shukri (Al-Omma TV channel)
31. Walid Shalabi (Ikhwan Online)
32. Yusuf Talat (Al-Sabab TV channel)
33. Mahmoud Mostafa Saad (Alnahar newspaper)
34. Ammar Abdul Majid (Al-Hadath website)
35. Sabri Anwar (Elbadil newspaper)
36. Samhi Mostafa (Rassd network)
37. Ibrahim Suleiman (5^thTV channel – National TV)
38. Omar Abdul-Maksoud (Masralarabia.com)
39. Mahmoud Abu Zeid, (aka Shawkan) (Demotix photo agency)
40. Bakri Abdul-Aal (Al-Raya newspaper)
41. Mohammed Al-Saeed Al-Dashti (Al-Mashhad newspaper)
42. Abdul-Rahman Shahin (Freedom and justice newspaper – Aljazeera TV channel)
43. Mohammed Salah Madani (Misr 25 TV channel)
44. Musaad Al-Barbari (Director Ahrar 25 TV channel)
45. Khaled Hamdi (Misr 25 TV channel)
46. Khaled Abdul-Aziz (Misr 25 TV channel)
47. Jamal Al-Alem (Misr 25 TV channel)
48. Osama Ezzuddin (Misr 25 TV channel)
49. Mohammad Al-Adli (Amjad TV channel)
50. Abdullah Al-Fakharani (Rassd network)
51. Moataz Mostafa Shahin (Freedom and Justice newspaper)
52. Mohamed Salah Sowaidan (Freelance photographer)
53. Mahmoud Abdul-Nabi Awad (Rassd network)
54. Ibrahim Abdul-Nabi Awad (Rassd network)
55. Khalid Abdul-Rauf Sahlob (Rassd network)
56. Khaled Hamza (Managing editor of IkhwanWeb)
57. Sayed Musa (Amjad TV channel)
58. Karim Mostafa Al-Sayed (Al-Shabab TV channel)
59. Mohammed Ezzat (Ikhwan Online)
60. Abdullah Shousha (Amjad TV channel)
61. Ahmed Lashin (Misr 25 TV channel)
62. Shadi Abdul-Hamid (Freelance correspondent)
63. Suhaib Saad Al-Haddad (Freelance correspondent, Aljazeera)
64. Khalid Mohammed Abdul-Rahman (Freelance correspondent, Aljazeera)
65. Wael Al-Heddini (Freelance correspondent)
66. Mohammed Mamoun Abu Shousha (Ahrar 25 TV channel)
67. Ibrahim Talha (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
68. Mahmoud Jamal Ali Othman (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
69. Mohyi Qasem Mohammed Abdul-Jawwad (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
70. Mohammed Mostafa Abdul-Nasser Abdul-Qadir (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
71. Ahmed Muharram Abdul-Salam (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
72. Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Salam Yaqout (Freelance reporter)
73. Sameh Mohammed Ahmed Bakri (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
74. Abdullah Jamal Moftah (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
75. Ammar Samir Abdul-Ghani Ahmad (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
76. Ahmed Khamis Mahmoud Kheder (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
77. Belal Abdullah Ahmad (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
78. Abdul-Rahman Hassan Abdul-Hafiz (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
79. Ahmed Khamis Anwar Abdul-Qawi (Stringer for satellite TV channels
80. Osama Hashem Mohammed Hashem (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
81. Mohamed Hossamuddin Abdul-Halim Al-Kafrawi (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
82. Omar Mohamed Mabrouk Al-Sawi (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
83. Ahmed Ali Ahmed Al-Najjar (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
84. Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Shehata (Stringer for satellite TV channels)
85. Islam Gomaa (Misr 25 TV channel)
86. Ahmed Hamouda Al-Sakhawi (Misr newspaper)
87. Ahmed Al-Mansi (Shabab News website)
88. Mahmoud Abdul-Latif (Shabab News website)
89. Ibrahim Samir (Freelance correspondent)
90. Islam Al-Banna (Freelance correspondent)
91. Islam Atef (Al-Omma website)
92. Ahmed Abu Khabeer (Al-Omma website)
93. Ahmed Maher Ali (Freelance correspondent)
94. Assem Abdul-Fattah (Al-Omma website)
95. Omar Khedr (Rassd network)
96. Omar Mabrouk (Freelance journalist)
97. Mahmoud Yahia (Al-Omma TV channel)