Published on Thursday 23 August 2012
"Reporters Without Borders is alarmed by the restrictions on media freedom resulting from recent decisions by Egypt’s newly-elected authorities.
It is also very worried about today’s decision by a criminal court judge in Giza to detain Islam Afifi, the editor of the daily Al-Dostour, until he is tried on charges of publishing lies about the president and endangering Egypt’s interests and stability.
Afifi was charged in response to many complaints about the newspaper’s 11 August issue, which had a front-page story warning that the Muslim Brotherhood could turn Egypt into an "emirate." The complaints also led to a court order under which copies of the issue were seized.
"This is a sad day for media freedom in Egypt because, for the first time since the January 2011 revolution, a professional journalist has been jailed for what he has written,” Reporters Without Borders said. "The judicial authorities are trampling on the desire for freedom that the Egyptian people expressed during the 2011 and 2012 protests. We call for Afifi’s immediate release."
Shortly before the judge issued his detention order, Afifi told Agence France-Presse he was the victim of a "political" prosecution......."
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