The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) strongly condemns the ongoing restriction imposed on media freedoms, continuing after about nine months since the outbreak of the Egyptian uprising. The Military Council has taken over power in the transitional phase to protect the revolution and realise its goals.
The Military Council, however, still exercises constant pressures, limiting freedom of expression and media freedoms. Media professional, Fouda has therefore decided to suspend his show 'Akher Kalam', which is broadcast on ONTV, for an indefinite period for "the deterioration of media freedom".
Fouda issued a press statement on Friday 21 October 2011, announcing that there has been direct and indirect pressure on those who still believe in the values of the Egyptian uprising, obliging them to impose self-restrictions on what should not be hidden.
Fouda was due to host writers and journalists Alaa El-Aswany, Ibrahim Eissa, and Yasser Rezq on his show on Thursday, 20 October201 to comment on the death of Gaddafi in Libya, and to analyze the interview two Egyptian army generals had given earlier on Tahrir TV and Dream TV.
Although the episode was announced, it was abruptly canceled without stating any reasons. Afterwards, news started to show up that the main reason not to broadcast the episode and the halting of Fouda's show was the intervention of some entities in the selection of the guests of the episodes.
"Nothing is more cruel for a journalist and a media practitioner than stopping to write and put forward his opinion. Thus, we understand how hard it was for Yosri Fouda to make such a decision and lose his audience. However, it remains a professional and committed stance, and a means of protest by a media professional that respects his principles, pen, and audience, expressed in the most powerful and appropriate way in Fouda's quote (speak a good word or remain silent)".
The Military Council had summoned Hossam El-Hamalwy, blogger and journalist, and Reem Magued, presenter of Baladna Bel Masry TV show, for an episode in which El-Hamalawy condemned the violations committed by the military police against the Egyptian citizens.
Journalists Hossam Al-Sweify and Nabil Sharaf Al-Din were investigated by the Military Prosecution for their remarks on signs of a deal between the Military Council and the Muslim Brotherhood. Activist, Asmaa Mahfouz was also investigated by the Military Prosecution for posting a tweet, perceived by the prosecution as offensive.
Additionally, journalists have been under strict control and censorship, highlighting the pressures that face the activists and media practitioners in the transitional phase.
This is not the first time to halt a show because of self-censorship. Dream TV had halted "Dream's Morning" show, presented by media professional Dina Abdel-Rahman, for an episode in which she criticized a close officer to the Military Council when he offended an Egyptian journalist flagrantly.
As ANHRI monitors and detects the violations committed against the Egyptian media by the Military Council, and the silence by Essam Sharaf's government, it sounds alarm bells to the Egyptian society which fought for freedom, and assures that no society would enjoy democracy while the media is sieged and cuffed. In addition to all that, military trials and the abhorrent state of emergency are still in place.
