Egyptian journalists get jail terms for libel

SPOCAHP ANAR · 04-17-2005, 08:54 PM

CAIRO, April 17 (Reuters) - A Cairo court sentenced three Egyptian journalists to one year's imprisonment on Sunday for libelling Housing Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Soleiman last year.

President Hosni Mubarak promised journalists in February 2004 that he would press for the abolition of custodial sentences for publishing offences but the press law remains unchanged because parliament has not acted.

Between 100 and 200 journalists gathered at their union building in central Cairo on Sunday evening to protest at the verdict and demand that Mubarak fulfil his promise.

The journalists work for the independent newspaper al-Masry al-Youm, which went daily last year and which often carries exclusive reports on domestic politics.

Chief executive Hesham Kassem said the newspaper would campaign this week against the verdict and its lawyers would probably file an appeal within a few days or as soon as the authorities arrest the journalists to serve their sentences.

"President Mubarak is the one who passed this law in the first place. But 400 days have passed since the promise and nothing has happened," Kassem told Reuters.

"They were tried along with suspected drug dealers and rapists. It's difficult to imagine how journalists could be put on trial like this. This leaves Egypt as one of the 20 countries in the world that lock up journalists," he added.

The journalists, Alaa el-Ghatrifi, Youssef al-Oumi and Abdel-Nasser el-Zuheiri, were also ordered to pay the minister 10,001 Egyptian pounds ($1,730) each in damages.

Big Dog · 04-18-2005, 04:48 AM

Typical journalists - they want special treatment. Spread their slanderous lies, but not able to be called to task? Let 'em rot. Send a message to the others. Remain objective, and report the news - don't print lies and try to influence the news!

04-17-2005, 08:54 PM	#1
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,097 Images: 3 Blog Entries: 4	Egyptian journalists get jail terms for libel CAIRO, April 17 (Reuters) - A Cairo court sentenced three Egyptian journalists to one year's imprisonment on Sunday for libelling Housing Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Soleiman last year. President Hosni Mubarak promised journalists in February 2004 that he would press for the abolition of custodial sentences for publishing offences but the press law remains unchanged because parliament has not acted. Between 100 and 200 journalists gathered at their union building in central Cairo on Sunday evening to protest at the verdict and demand that Mubarak fulfil his promise. The journalists work for the independent newspaper al-Masry al-Youm, which went daily last year and which often carries exclusive reports on domestic politics. Chief executive Hesham Kassem said the newspaper would campaign this week against the verdict and its lawyers would probably file an appeal within a few days or as soon as the authorities arrest the journalists to serve their sentences. "President Mubarak is the one who passed this law in the first place. But 400 days have passed since the promise and nothing has happened," Kassem told Reuters. "They were tried along with suspected drug dealers and rapists. It's difficult to imagine how journalists could be put on trial like this. This leaves Egypt as one of the 20 countries in the world that lock up journalists," he added. The journalists, Alaa el-Ghatrifi, Youssef al-Oumi and Abdel-Nasser el-Zuheiri, were also ordered to pay the minister 10,001 Egyptian pounds ($1,730) each in damages.

04-18-2005, 04:48 AM	#2
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,221	Typical journalists - they want special treatment. Spread their slanderous lies, but not able to be called to task? Let 'em rot. Send a message to the others. Remain objective, and report the news - don't print lies and try to influence the news! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.