Egypt / Middle East & North Africa

  
Tahrir Square erupts after the army ousts Morsi. (AP/Amr Nabil)

Attacks in Egypt highlight risk of covering protests

From São Paulo to Istanbul to Cairo, coverage of street demonstrations has re-emerged as an exceptionally dangerous assignment for journalists. Since June 1, CPJ has documented more than 120 attacks on the press amid the civil unrest in Brazil, Turkey, and Egypt–the biggest surge of attacks in such circumstances since the uprisings that swept the Arab world…

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Military special forces march to surround supporters of Mohammed Morsi in Nasr City, Cairo, on Wednesday. (AP/Hassan Ammar)

Egypt’s army must exercise restraint with state media

New York, July 3, 2013–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Egyptian military to refrain from exercising editorial control over state-owned media as the country’s political crisis deepens.

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Opponents of Mohammed Morsi wave national flags at a protest outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Monday. (AP/Nariman El-Mofty)

Journalist dead, several attacked in Egypt

New York, July 1, 2013–The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about the security of journalists covering ongoing mass protests in Egypt. One journalist was killed and six others were injured while covering demonstrations against President Mohamed Morsi over the weekend, according to news reports.

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The government is directing satellite channels to curb their coverage of the protests this weekend. (AP)

Egypt warns of TV shutdowns; legal threats mount

New York, June 28, 2013–Egypt’s Ministry of Investment sent notice today to all satellite television channels warning they will be shut down if the government deems that their coverage of this weekend’s political protests incites violence, insults individuals, or contradicts societal values, news reports said. Numerous journalists are also facing new legal threats in the…

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Thousands of Egyptians attended the rally organized by supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood. (AP/Khalil Hamra)

At nonviolence rally in Cairo, attacks against the press

New York, June 24, 2013–Several journalists were attacked and threatened in Cairo this weekend at a “Say No to Violence” rally organized by supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood to call on opposition groups to ensure nonviolence on June 30, the day of planned demonstrations and strikes across the country.

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Protesters light fires during clashes between supporters and opponents of the Muslim Brotherhood. (AFP/Mohamed el-Shahed)

Journalists attacked, detained covering protests in Egypt

New York, June 20, 2013–At least four journalists were attacked and two of them briefly detained while covering protests in Egypt on Tuesday, according to news reports that said a Muslim Brotherhood official and supporters were behind the assaults.

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CPJ rejects Egyptian ruling against civil society

New York, June 4, 2013–The Committee to Protect Journalists is dismayed by today’s conviction of 43 individuals affiliated with international nonprofit organizations on charges of working illegally in Egypt. CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour was sentenced to two years in prison based on the work he did with Freedom House,…

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Authorities pursue legal action against Egyptian journalists

The Al-Dokki Criminal Court on May 28, 2013, sentenced Islam Afifi, former editor-in-chief of Al-Dustour newspaper, to a fine of 10,000 Egyptian pounds (US$1,431) after convicting him of libel against Essam al-Eryan, a leader in the Muslim Brotherhood. Al-Eryan filed a complaint against Afifi after the journalist published a report in June 2012 that alleged…

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In Egypt, journalists face prosecution, attacks, detention

The editor-in-chief of the daily Al-Watan, Magdy el-Galad, and a reporter for the paper, Ahmed el-Khatib, were referred to a criminal court on May 8, 2013, for publishing a “false report that could disturb public peace,” according to news reports.

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Muslim Brotherhood members shout slogans during a protest in front of the Supreme Judicial Council in Cairo on Friday. Arabic on the T-shirt reads, 'clean judiciary.' (AP/Amr Nabil)

More journalists attacked in Cairo, Alexandria clashes

New York, April 23, 2013–At least 13 journalists were attacked amid clashes between supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and the opposition Friday in Cairo and Alexandria. Demonstrators supporting the Muslim Brotherhood were calling for reform of Egypt’s judiciary, while opposition groups were protesting the Brotherhood and the government it leads. 

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