Mubarak’s consecutive governments had sent journalists to
jail for reporting on the president’s health and other sensitive issues, and
managed a web of security agents who meddled in newsrooms. During the protests
that ousted Mubarak, authorities banned broadcasts by the Arabic and English
language channels of the pan-Arab satellite station Al-Jazeera and revoked the
press credentials of all of its journalists.
Communication Minister Osama Heikal told reporters late
Wednesday the satellite licensing decision stems from concerns about violence
being incited and about what he called an increasingly chaotic media scene. He
said the freeze was temporary, but didn’t say when it would end, and did not
say how many pending requests were affected.
Heikal also said he had designated authorities to take legal
measures against satellite stations that incite sedition and violence. He did
not name any stations or said what penalties might be imposed.
Also this week, Egypt’s prosecutor general office said it
has officially informed media outlets of the court order banning any reporting
or publishing of the testimony of Egypt’s military ruler and four other senior
current and former officials during hearings next in the trial of Mubarak. The
83-year-old Mubarak is on trial on charges of complicity in the deaths of
protesters, a charge that could bring a death penalty. Violating the ban on
reporting on the trial is punishable by up to three years in prison, lawyers
said.
The moves come as the military rulers face rising
accusations that they are moving too slowly toward democracy. Activists have
called a rally critical of the military council for Friday, the first in a
month, and dubbed it “Correcting the course.”
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces took charge after
Mubarak stepped down in February, promising to hold elections and hand over
power to civilians within six months.
But seven months later, the military council has yet to
announce a specific date for elections; has passed a complicated election law
which many say would preserve the power of Mubarak allies in the new
parliament; and has interrogated and detained its critics, while trying
thousands of civilians before military courts.
Reporters Without Borders in a statement Thursday also said
bloggers in today’s Egypt face restrictions reminiscent of the repression that
prevailed before Mubarak’s overthrow. The rights group was drawing attention to
the case of Maikel Nabil, sentenced in April to three years in prison for blog
entries accusing military rulers of being too close to Mubarak.
The 26-year-old, who has been on hunger strike for 17 days,
was transferred on Sept. 1 to a prison infirmary after suffering serious heart
problems, according to Reporters Without Borders.
Human rights lawyer Gamal Eid says the satellite station
decisions announced Wednesday allow the military council to illegally limit
criticism in the media in the run-up to parliamentary elections, now expected
in November.
“It is no different than decisions taken by Mubarak,” Eid
said.
Eid questioned Heikal’s plans to take legal measures against
stations accused of inciting sedition.
“What does sedition mean? Is it religious, or is basically
any form of criticism considered seditious?” said Eid. “My assessment is this
is related to rising voices of criticism against the military council’s
management.”
Despite Mubarak-era attempts to muzzle expression, Egypt had
a vibrant media scene that grew increasingly critical of Mubarak and his
policies in the months before the longtime leader was forced to step down in
the wake of widespread popular protests.
Following the uprising, new private papers and satellite
stations have mushroomed, many of which were founded by government critics and
protest supporters. Many old regime figures also started in new TV stations, as
have hard-line groups, which were tightly regulated by the Mubarak regime.
Eid said at least eight new satellite stations have already
been registered and 11 were awaiting licensing.
