Annual Report on: Freedom of Press and Media in Egypt 2017 Annual on: Freedom of PRreses apndo Merdtia in Egypt 2017

Conducted by Ahmed Abo Elmagd

Reviewed by Ahmed Ragab

Cover designed by Ahmed Sobhy

Published year 2017 Annual Report on: Freedom of Press and Media in Egypt 2017

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) is a non-governmental, non- party and non-profit organization .It is mission is to propose public policies that aim at reforming the Egyptian legal and economic systems. ECPPS’s goal is to enhance the principles of free market, individual freedom and the rule of law.

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) 1 Annual Report on: Freedom of Press and Media in Egypt 2017

In 2017, the Egyptian Center for Public Policies Studies issues a monthly monitoring to measure (Legislative climate, political climate, economic climate, media performance and civil society role) in regard to freedom of media and journalism in Egypt, in trying to stand on events, changes, violations which happen and effect on media and journalism statement in Egypt. The Egyptian Center for Public Policies Studies held general interviews and conferences with the participation of many parties and different entities (members of Parliament, members of Press Syndicate, researchers and members of media and journalism councils) just to review, present important events and actors observed over the year.

This report includes an “annual detailed report for the statement of media and journalism in Egypt in 2017”. Important events and changes which affected negatively or positively in the climate of freedom of press and media work in Egypt in 2017 in addition to precise recommendations for decision makers based on these events and changes to improve the climate of media and journalism in Egypt.

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 Methodology of the report  Freedom of media and press in the face of terrorism Content:  The political circumstances surrounding media and press in 2017

 Legislative environment

 The economic environment affecting press and media scene.  Performance of Media Regulatory Organizations  Performance of Media and Journalism

 The most prominent violations

 Recommendations of the report

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First: Methodology of the report.

Otherwise of many entities which issue reports to monitor freedom of Media and Journalism case entitled “El hasad El Mor” translated to “Bitter Harvest” or ( the blackest year For Media and Journalism in history) to come out with prejudges lack objectivity and impartiality and unlike the binky vision which adopted from leaders of Media and Journalism Organizations whether they are officials or syndicalist who try to make any possible way to be better than the previous situations. These institutions deliberate the denial for every negatives and challenges which face media and journalism work in Egypt. The center has adopted a scientific methodology in monitoring and analyzing process to participate in presenting an objective vision to Journalism and Media situation in Egypt just to present recommendations, ideas and theses which help in raising an alternative polices to support the freedom of media and journalism.

The report adopts the approach of presentation, monitoring and documentation of legislation and decisions related to the freedom of press and media, as well as serious violations of attacks on journalists and their residence as well as press premises in violation of the Constitution and Egyptian laws and international treaties and covenants.

The report also focused on monitoring and documentation to be one of the important documents to put control on the conclusions and support the vision and analyzes of the political climate and its impact on individual freedoms, according to the measurement and monitoring of specific criteria:

- The pluralism of media, its diversity and its representation of society.

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- The independence of media and the extent of its independence from influence, whether the source of influence government or money and others.

- Media environment and self-censorship.

- Legal framework for information and media activities.

- Measurement of transparency in institutions, procedures affecting the production of news and information

- The quality of the infrastructure that supports the production of news and information.

- Violations and violence against journalists and media professionals.

The report used the official and non-official sources as well as national and paper and electronic newspapers. The report also relied mainly on the monthly monitoring reports issued by the Center during 2017, which includes:

First: The legislative environment of the press and media.

* Developments in laws relating to media, freedom of the press and freedom of information, which are discussed in Parliament, or in specialized trade unions such as the Journalists Syndicate, or are prepared in the government.

* News concerning the organization of journalists / media professionals for themselves in independent entities or otherwise to defend the freedom of media.

* News on issues that violate the principles of freedom of expression and information in the Egyptian Constitution and international human rights law.

* News regarding the accusation and investigation / judgment on the workers of the field or the imposition of sanctions on media institutions and others.

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* Trying to legalize electronic media and the imposition of registration of sites and electronic radio in accordance with Egyptian laws.

Second: The political environment of the press and media

* News related to the censorship of the governmental, private media and whether it resulted in the confiscation of the news or prevention it or not actually produced.

* News which relating to the refusal to disclose government information on grounds of national security, secrecy or any other reason and the problems which facing journalists to obtain information.

* Following up the quality of guests in political programs in general and ensures the existence of a variety of political views and political representation of participating guests and their freedom to express their views without confiscation or censorship as well as the observation of gender diversity and minority representation.

*Monitor the community / political violence against journalists and practitioners in the field, whether physical or verbal and the impact on news coverage and their performance of their media work.

Third: Economic conditions affecting the press and the media

* News related to the ownership of newspapers and media, their integration, sale and purchase by any private entity "businessmen" and the impact on the trends of the media institution.

* Monitor how the economic crisis in Egypt affects the development and neutrality of the media in Egypt, such as paper and printing prices, monopoly of specific institutions to print newspapers which may affect the content, advertising monopoly in a particular channel or newspaper and others.

* Monitor the cost of establishing new radio, television or new newspaper channels and whether they are appropriate or limited to a particular category that can afford the cost of them.

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Fourth: Media performance

-Monitoring the discourse of discrimination and hatred and incitement by the media towards certain groups in society based on their gender, political views, race, religion, and others.

-Monitor the balance in the media coverage in terms of care to highlight all views, especially the opposition or not.

-Monitoring the self-censorship that may be done by some media to refuse to address the discussion of controversial issues may occur in disagreement with the Authority.

Second: Freedom of Press and media in the face of terrorism.

Media and Press as supporters of the status in the war against terrorism.

Media and Press, especially new media, have played a leading role in uncovering and exposing religious groups that resort to violence, increasing popular rejection of these trends. Media and Press are also working to unite the home front in the battle of the state in the face of terrorism. The actions of state institutions have resulted in policies to control the press and media with restrictions that stifle freedom of opinion and expression. These media and press outlets sometimes lose their independence and thus lose their credibility and their role.

In fact, the conceptions that promote human rights on one side and national security on the other side are based on the notion that human rights conventions enshrine limitless rights and that national legislation should therefore be put in place to impose temporary limits on these rights. The human rights conventions and charters already contain a system of restrictions for purposes such as balancing freedoms and the need to confront threats to national security, including the threat of terrorism. The Egyptian Constitution is concerned in more than one place by providing controls and guarantees for the protection of the

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state and the protection of citizens. The law contains many controls that often increase to become obstacles to freedom of opinion and expression.

Basing on steps of fighting terrorism, we can call 2017 “the year of tightening control and re-adjusting the media scene”. The year witnesses the formation of the media regulatory bodies in April, the establishment of the Media Union Council and the restructuring of the General Information Authority (SIS), which was headed by former press Chief “Diaa Rashwan”.

Multidimensional censorship of the press and media

Those changes that have brought out a sense the least possible scene are the media and journalists' trap. All these media and media entities have become tools for monitoring, assessing and accounting journalists and media professionals. The journalist or journalist becomes subject to the censorship of the newspaper / channel in which he works and the control of institutions involved in the organization of media work, there is self-censorship practiced by the journalist himself so as not to fall in the taboo of multiple taboos.

Third: The political circumstances surrounding the media and the press in 2017.

In a statement that reflects the perception of the political leadership of what is supposed to be media and press, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's statement at the beginning of the year in January during a telephone conversation with the media Amr Adib on ONTV confirmed that “media was one language in the war of 67 ... The state organs, its media outlets and its institutions all speaking one language. They are lining up in one direction... during 3 years from 67 until the cease-fire in the year 70. He added “Is public opinion stands behind this confrontation?” while his statement he answered “No, and the circumstances of Egypt and the Egyptian

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situation after 2011 in addition the reality of the currently media is not the media reality that existed before”1. This was preceded by the suspension of Ibrahim Eissa on the channel of “Al Kahera wl Nas” before the beginning of the year and in February, Khaled Talima presenter" Sabah On "through “ON” channel , the administration ended his contract without giving reasons after 5 years of his work as a channel interlocutor and he had previously served as deputy minister of youth in the government of Hazem Beblawi.2

In the middle of the year in July came, the call of President of the Republic Abdel Fattah Sisi, media outlets to create a state of fear for the Egyptian people of the overthrow of the State, stressing the importance of working to support the morale of the people in the face of weakening the Egyptian state while his speech at the fourth youth conference in Alexandria, which received a quick response from the media and press organizations, which announced its adoption of the initiative of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to «stabilize the state», and on the public awareness of the dangers threatening the state to prevent it from the fall, so the journalism constitutions kicked off their campaign to “stabilize the state”.

Fourth: The legislative environment.

Constitutional gains of press and media freedom

It can be said that the Constitution of Egypt which issued in 2014 comes at the forefront of the previous Egyptian constitutions in terms of interest in press and media issues in particular, and the issue of freedom of opinion and expression in general. The number of articles dealing with these cases reached 15 articles of the total articles of the Constitution of 247 articles.

1 . “Zahma Dot Kom” website https://goo.gl/KwcuaE 2 . “Al Badaya” newspaper https://goo.gl/i0VDLu

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The Constitution, through its Articles 211,212,213, oblige the executive branch to submit a proposed law covering the organization of the National Press Commission, the National media Commission and the Supreme Council for the Regulation of the Press and Media, as well as the articles that regulate the issue of penalties involving deprivation of liberty and crimes publishing as well as a supposed to Ethical Code for Media aimed at controlling the randomness of the media scene and stopping its excesses and holding those responsible accountable according to the professional rules.

At the end of 2016, the Organization of the Press and Media Law was issued without a law covering the rights and duties of media professionals or amending the law of the Syndicate of Journalists, which is approaching the date of its publication for half a century. Despite the statement of MP Osama Haikal in July 2017, that the draft law on the organization of the press and media will be a top priority of the Committee in the third session, rejecting the accusations against the Committee as the reason for the delay in the issuance of the law3. "However, this law did not come to light until the date of writing this report”.

The members of the boards of directors of the media and the press also suffered from the imbalance in the membership of the three bodies. They included a mix of journalists, media professionals, and representatives of government bodies, the judiciary and the media professors in the universities. There is no representative of the opposition. The National Party and those who held senior positions in the press and media during the rule of President Mubarak. Women Journalists were not represented in the press entities and young people were absent from the membership of the three bodies. All members are above 50 and perhaps even older on the condition at least 15 years of experience.

3 . https://goo.gl/JrALy3 “Al Masry Al Youm” newspaper.

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In November, the Prime Minister, Eng. Sherif Ismail, issued the executive regulation of the institutional organization law for the press and media. The regulation enables the press and media bodies established by law to kick off its work, almost one year after its issuance. The adoption of the Executive Regulations is delayed by the violation of the provisions of the law issued within three months from the date of the law.

Free flow of Information Law

For the seventh time since the revolution of January 25, 2011, a new draft law to regulate the free flow of information is born in implementation of the text of Article 68, even though on 14 July Makram Mohammed Ahmed, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Media and Press Organization, said that the Council is finalizing the draft law on free flow of information Within a month, pointing out that a committee of 12 members of the elite media men and legal figures from inside and outside the Council, was assigned to issue the draft law4. However, this law did not come to light at the date of writing this report nor was it put to the community debate on interested parties and active on it.

The attitude of the House of Representatives on freedom of the press and media

The delay in the issuance of the Freedom of media and press law was the dominate feature of the Parliament performance, while the legislators tried to put forward draft laws that confiscate the freedom of opinion and expression. In general, for example, the draft law to insult the symbols and historical figures, submitted by MP Amr Hamroush, and referred by Dr. Ali Abdel-Aal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the relevant committees, and frequent proposals of deputies to tighten control over the Internet time and time to pay money to users sites Communication or blocking.

4 https://goo.gl/gXCG8P “Al Dostor” newspaper

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In March, parliament continued to attack journalists after a report was filed against journalist Ibrahim Issa. The chairman of the parliament criticized the national newspaper “Al-Ahram” "The council is distorted even though the state is spending on it." This is what called for the anger of who are based on It as they are low of the position of “Al-Ahram” newspaper.5

On 10/4/2017, Dr. Ali Abdel Aal, Speaker of the House of Representatives, said that the state of emergency will be imposed on the media and the press. He added that the emergency law stipulates the control of the media and journalist performance and organizes the working mechanisms for Twitter and YouTube sites. Under the law to control the security settings in the Egyptian street. Amid the welcome of parliamentarians, which angered the journalists and media.6

In May, MP Kamal Amer, chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee of the House of Representatives, submitted a draft law to toughen the penalties on charges of insulting the president and remanding them, as well as toughening penalties for insulting the House of Representatives and symbols of the state in addition to raise the fine to LE100 thousand in insulting the bodies.7

The remand in publishing crimes was abolished in 2012 and the penalty of imprisonment for insulting the President of the Republic was abolished in 2013 while keeping the fine.

5 . https://goo.gl/XjiFHB “Al Youm Al sabaa” newspaper. 6 https://goo.gl/l1fCfV “Al Masry Al Youm” newspaper. 7. https://goo.gl/nHzktn “AlMogaz” newspaper.

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This is one of the legislative problems related to freedom of media which is not in line with international standards in this regard. We look forward to the abolition of penalties involving deprivation of freedom-related to publishing crimes in general and to be tried by civil law only and not criminal, with clear criteria for the damage to the plaintiff's right. People in public office are supposed to carry more criticism than the ordinary citizen ex officio. Entire institutions should never be protected from criticism, because an institution can’t be insulted; it is an insult to individuals.8

Fifth: The economic environment affecting press and media scene.

The economic situation of the press and media in 2017 can be further reduced by the attempts of state officials to control the newspapers and the private media and the increasing losses of the media sector and the government press.

In January, “Chery Media” company officially received the management of the capital's network of channels, which was run by MP Saeed Hassassin. The deputy director of “Chery Media”, former deputy spokesman for the armed forces Mohamed Samir, will manage “Al-Asma” channel.9

In March, the “new Gulf” website published an official document confirming the partnership of Major General Abbas Kamel, Director of the Office of President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, one of the founders of the “DMC” channel group and its board of directors.10

8 . https://goo.gl/DBq4E4 scopes of reform – Egyptian Center for Public Policies Studies. 9 . https://goo.gl/aizgWV “Mas El Arabia” website. 10 . https://goo.gl/Mx5WpH “Rasd News Network”.

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In July, a number of editors of the banned party newspapers gathered at the headquarters of the Journalists Syndicate to demand the implementation of their demands for distribution to national institutions and the National Distribution Company, similar to their colleagues who were distributed under the former president Mamdouh Al-Wali.11

Moreover on July 10, Journalist Abdel Mohsin Salama, the journalist's captain, announced that he was about to complete the drafting of the law on charge stamp of journalism to provide part of the union's financial independence.12

In November, Dr. Nader Mustafa, Secretary of the Information Committee, told the House of Representatives about the losses of the Union of Radio and Television that the situation of the media needs reviews and practical solutions. Mustafa said that one of the reform steps was closing “Soot El Shaab” channel, Administrative and financial support provided by the state, the long-term suspension of employment, the integration processes currently underway and the rationalization of expenditure, all of which bear fruit but which they require time.

On the increase in wages by the budget of the Commission to 60 million pounds, he explained that they are subject to the discussion of the Commission and that the increase in wages is undoubtedly the main objective of reform and the Official newspaper published the decision of President Abdel Fattah Sisi, No. 567 of 2017, Linking the final account of the budget of the National Media Commission (responsible for Maspero) for the last financial year and it reported the loss of the aforementioned year, worth 5 billion 434 million and 986 thousand and 909 pounds.13

11 https://goo.gl/MNZfcJ “Al Youm El sabaa” newspaper. 12 https://goo.gl/enwpAU “Al Youm El sabaa”newspaper. 13 . https://goo.gl/5ZArsd “Masrawy” website.

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On November 20, Al-Sisi issued a decision to amend the appropriations of the budget of the National Information Authority for the fiscal year 2016/2017 for about LE 98 million. The official newspaper published the text of the president's decision that this would be to meet the wage increases of 60823846 and the rest of the expenditure costs by 913422190 pounds against the increase of the appropriations of revenues by 188609127 pounds and increase the appropriations of the losses of the year by 785636909 pounds.14

Sixthly: The performance of media organizations.

Supreme Council of Information

The Supreme Council for Media Regulation, which was established on 26 December by Law 92 of 2016 and presidential decree issued No. 158 in April 2017, was characterized by its aggressive performance towards journalists and media outlets as well as its attempting to control and deny any problems faced by journalists and media. Makram Mohammed Ahmed, in which he said that "Egypt does not have one journalist detained because of his work or ideas or religion and beliefs, and that most blocked sites follow the Muslim Brotherhood." The Council also focused on restrictions on press and media work, and impositions of sanctions and Intervention in the competencies of others, such as the Journalists Syndicate, the Syndicate of Media workers and device of control on literature and other examples.

In June, the Council issued a report evaluating the programs and advertising materials as well as the content of dramas that are subject to censorship of works of dramas. The report pointed out that the content included sexual references and objectionable behavior, as well as historical and artistic errors, political projections and abuse.15

14 . https://goo.gl/VmSdx9 “Sada El Balad”. 15 . https://goo.gl/FZAbTG “Masrawy”website.

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Moreover there is a fine of 200 thousand pounds on each satellite channel and 100 thousand pounds for radio stations if an offensive word is broadcast through these means, whether the word came during the program or within the content of dramas or advertising. The decision extends to withdraw the license of this media if it repeats the broadcast and does not comply with the penalty within six months and this method will have to reinstate the licensing procedures again. In addition to allocate 10% of the fine owed to the citizen amount which is what makes citizens censors on each other's tastes.16

In the first week of August, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation decided to suspend the broadcast of four television programs for one month each, on charges of violating the Charter of Media Honor, with the warning of the channels broadcast by withdrawing the license if repeated the violation .The programs are «Sah El Noom » on the channel «L. T. C "and" Dudu Shaw "on the channel" Al- Nahar”, ”Enfrad "on the channel "Al-Asma" and " 3 in 1 "on the channel “On. T.v” The charges range from directing corruption charges to current and former officials in the Ministry of Agriculture without evidence and hosting those who promote unethical behavior related to the man's relationship with women and the exchange of guests of one of the programs has reached a point where one of them His shoes in the face of the other.

Although the facts attributed to the four programs were the same as those considered by the Syndicate of Journalists, the union's assessment differed from that of the Council. In the same week, it decided to extend the sanctions to two of its members who submitted these programs. Months for programmers «Reham Said» and «Duaa Salah», while I decided to reduce the penalty for the other two - namely «Mohamed Ghita» and «dr. Said Hassassin» from stopping the program for a month to a mere warning.

It is true that the law of the union confers on its own the task of questioning its members in the event that one of them violates one of the provisions of the Charter of Media Honor and that the law of the institutional organization of the press and media gives the Supreme Council the task of questioning the channels

16 . https://goo.gl/P9HGc5 “El Watan” newspaper.

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in which they work. However the suspension of the program provider for three months is meaningless except to stop the program itself during this period, although the penalty imposed by the competent authority, the Supreme Council is to suspend it for a period of one month only. The sponsors of the program «Sah El Noom» and «Enfrad", they will not change the fact that the Supreme Council has decided to stop the two programs - and thus stop their sponsors - for a month.

Unless the Supreme Council is aware of it, is that the legislator gave it the power to impose sanctions on the media institutions, so that these sanctions will motivate them to oblige their employees with professional charters through an internal accounting mechanism that prevents them from exaggerating if repeated mistakes occur. The disciplinary board of the syndicate of professional journalists shouldn’t be alerted to it by the board of directors of the existing media union. It is an interim council whose task is only to establish the union's agenda. Disciplinary accountability in professional syndicates should be exercised within the framework of the guarantees regulated by law, including the right to defend themselves Shall be subject to penalties The main task of the media is not only to compel journalists to fulfill their duties - including respect for professional codes of conduct, but also to defend their material and moral rights, primarily the right to freedom of opinion and expression and independence.17

In November, the Licensing Committee of the Supreme Council for Media confirmed that each newspaper should have a responsible editor-in-chief; it supervises actual supervision of its publications, and a number of responsible editors supervise each department effectively. The committee explained that it requires the editor-in-chief and the editors of the newspaper to be registered with the workers ' union of the journalists' syndicate in addition no one has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor against honor and honesty unless he has been rehabilitated to exercise Political rights.18

17 . https://goo.gl/eHchwN Salah Eisa’s article on 2 August, “Al Masry Al Youm” newspaper. 18 https://goo.gl/A5H3fc “Al Watan” newspaper.

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National Press Agency

In April, Ahmad al-Najjar, the former chairman of “Al-Ahram” Foundation, resigned from his position and published its text on the website of “Al-Ahram” Gate, which was a protest against him. The decision of the National Press Commission, in which the heads of the boards of directors of the press institutions were informed that no financial or administrative decisions were taken or decisions to appoint, transfer or sign sanctions against any of the employees of the institution and not to depend on any decisions taken since the National Press Association’s oath on Wednesday April 12, which “Al Nagar” considers it as “to remain in office without powers”.19

Journalists Syndicate

In March, the editor-in-chief of the state-owned “Al-Ahram” newspaper, Abdel Mohsin Salama, was elected as the head of the Journalists' Syndicate20 and each of Hussain Al-Zanati, Mohammed Kharaja, Jamal Abdul Rahim “over the age” as well as each of Al-Faru Al-Sun, Amr Badr, Mohammed Saad Abdulhafeez and Ayman Abdul Majeed “under the age” have won The Council Membership in the midterm elections.21

However, the performance of this council as a whole is based on the approach of negating real problems and not confronting them and taking care of social activities at the expense of the interests of the profession, for example the statement of Abdul Mohsen Salameh, the captain of Syndicate of Journalists, “there is no journalists is detained in the case of publication”.

19 . https://goo.gl/hsD9Nw Al Youm Al sabaa” newspaper. 20 https://goo.gl/SDUSog “Al Shorooq” newspaper. 21 https://goo.gl/iRhcqs “Al Masry Al Youm” newpaper.

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On August 16, Abdel Mohsen Salameh, the journalists' chief, confirmed that the January 25 revolution had destroyed the green land in the Egyptian press and caused great losses for all Egyptian press, private and party newspapers. He added that all the Egyptian newspapers suffered huge losses amounting to billions in the wake of the revolution, which harmed the Egyptian press and caused newspapers to suffer from excessive employment, high prices and printing costs as well as the closure of a large number of newspapers and the displacement of journalists. 22

In November, Abdul Mohsin Salameh, the journalists' captain, denied the existence of any journalist imprisoned in the case of publishing. He stressed the importance of issuing the free flow of information law which required by the parliament to speed up its issuance. He appealed to the Attorney General to activate the protocol signed between the syndicate and the prosecution, he added to “Sabah Dream” program on "Dream" channel, that the allocation of land to build a hospital journalists, where is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for him next year, following that the union will pay the law of journalists union and press stamp before the end of the parliamentary session.23

The Council's most important concern was to increase the technology allowance for journalists. On August 18, Abdel Mohsen Salama, the head of the Journalists Syndicate, announced an increase of 300 pounds for journalists.24

22 https://goo.gl/iRhcqs “Al Masry Al Youm” newspaper. 23 https://goo.gl/z6kgu4 Al Fajer newspaper 24 https://goo.gl/ncsL8Y Al Masry Al Youm newpaper

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Seventh :Performance of Press and Media.

State media controls of the media, the blocking of media outlets, the blocking of press and online news sites and the censorship of press content have contributed to the media and press release of a handful of pro-government journalists and mediasupporters, who often go beyond accusing their fellow journalists in newspapers and media. In March, for example, journalist Khaled Salah said during his program “Akher Al Nahar” program broadcasts on "An-Nahar One” channel that the channel "Deutsche Welle" directed against Egypt and its broadcasters an intelligence sheet against their country, for violation as well as Its speech breach all Egyptian newspapers, channels and news sites while Salah was stressing the need to align the media and unite his speech to support Egypt.25

On the other hand, the performance of some media is characterized by a lack of respect for privacy and violation of private life for citizens, for example, in April, where journalist Hani Abu Zeid published a video showing Mona Prince, a doctor at the University of Suez dancing on the roof of her house, I was published on the site of social networking "Facebook" earlier as well as personal photos on his account claiming that they are images "Mokhla" translated to “unsuitable photos” and not suitable for the Egyptian education system so within hours she was transferred to the investigation during a statement to the university president in one of the episodes of the programs on the television without warning her that she did something "out of tradition" as she surprised by publishing her name in the newspaper of "incidents of Suez."26

This is in addition to some other journalistic and media practices that reinforce discriminatory concepts against minorities or social levels. For example, in May, journalists and users of social media denounced the words used in an article by Sabri Ghunaim entitled "I pay my monthly salary to my servant but every month she asked me to give her bonus”27. Which they described as apprenticeship and transcendence, where the writer described Egyptian domestic workers with

25 https://goo.gl/ql7BKc Al Masry Al Youm newpaper. 26 https://goo.gl/Qt17nm “Zahma Dot Com” website 27 https://goo.gl/OvBhj9 “Al Akhbar” newspaper.

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“poverty and indecency” for refusing to work in homes even as" house manager "for no known reason, he said.

Eighth: The most prominent violations.

The violations of the freedom of the press and media in Egypt in 2017 amounted about 253 violations, which represent a large percentage of these violations, followed by a ban on coverage and subsequent prosecutions. Violations and offenses indicate that the private media and private newspapers expose their employees to a much greater number of violations. Violations that can be exposed to workers in the media and government newspapers to reach the ratio to almost 4: 1 and focused these responses in a greater extent in the cities of Cairo and Giza to become the most provinces where the violations occurred by virtue of the central media and the press and media in Egypt as the capital of the majority of the media and newspapers in Egypt to get closer to events. In contrast to the cases in which many journalists and media professionals, which stresses the magnitude of the problems in the laws governing the work of press and media, the blocking was the most prominent violations that occurred in 2017 has been blocked government agency 93 news sites and 4 television sites were identified and then the coverage was blocked by official bodies and ordinary citizens. In some cases, the report monitored about 10 cases of denial of coverage by orders of the heads of courts. It also discussed within the corridors of the House of Representatives proposals to amend the 286 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which regulate the public hearings of the trial.

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The most prominent violations of press and media freedom in Egypt during 2017

Blocking sites

Ending contracting, terminating and stopping from work Prosecution (Complaints, arresting, detaining)

Confiscating an edition or prohibiting an article or news Physical violations

Prohibiting from covering.

Stopping an program

Taking over tools and corrupting data

The type of violation Number Blocking all press websites and channels 97

Ending contracting, terminating and stopping from work 11

Prosecution (Complaints, arresting, detaining) 50

Confiscating an edition or prohibiting an article or news 11

Physical violations 12

Prohibiting from covering 61

Stopping an program 3

Taking over tools and corrupting data 8

Total 253

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The most prominent of these violations:

In March, Yahya Qallash, the former journalists' captain, former members of the union's board Khalid al-Balashi and Jamal Abdul Rahim, were sentenced to three years in prison on charges of harboring suspects.28

Abdullah al-Subaihi, a journalist at the National newspaper “Al-Ahram”, a representative of the al-Ahram Gate, at the Ministry of Health, was also investigated 29for being a doctor. The incident took place in Al-Agoza in April 2015 for about 3 hours to reveal that Health Ministry officials deceived former Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahalab with a false opening of building No. 7. He noted that he knew of a lawsuit against him, a year after Published for investigation. He explained through several statements that he did not exercise the role of doctor, but wore the clothes of doctors for safety and freedom of movement, which is permissible for the investigative journalist.30

On April 5, the Nasr City Misdemeanor Court sentenced Ahmed Mousa to 6 months imprisonment and 5 thousand pounds on bail, accusing him of broadcasting and disseminating phone calls between former army chief of staff Sami Anan and former Egyptian Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei. January 25, 2011, during one of his episodes on "My Responsibility" on the channel "Sada El Balad".31

On July 31, Al-Youm Al-Sabaa published a statement stating that Anwar Rifai, the legal adviser to the newspaper, would file a complaint with the Journalists Syndicate demanding that three journalists be referred to the Disciplinary Committee for "insulting Al Youm Al Sabaa" and "conspiring with a Lebanese media organization” In reference to the Lebanese newspaper “Al-Akhbar”, and the Editorial Department of "Al Youm Al Sabaa" had informed four of its journalists orally of the decision to dismiss them from work, after refusing to sign a leave without pay for a year at the request of the editor, Khaled Salah. A source

28 . https://goo.gl/Vg6oe3 “Dot Misr” news website. 29 https://goo.gl/g3XEoc “Journalists against torture’s Network” 30 https://goo.gl/VRYyVv “Al Ahram Gate”. 31 https://goo.gl/zIUuaq Masrawy website.

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) 23 Annual Report on: Freedom of Press and Media in Egypt 2017

close to the detractors of the « Masa Masr » that six other journalists signed on leave without pay for a year, and came the decision to leave and terminating against the backdrop of the position of journalists rejecting the Convention on the delimitation of the maritime border between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, according to sources spoke to «Mada Masr ».32

As Sulaiman al-Hakim, a newspaper writer in “Al-Masri Al Youm”, said that his articles were prohibited from publishing for the third week in a row, for political reasons related to the subject of the article as well as Al-Masry Al-Youm’s journalist, Atef Bader, said that the Criminal Court of Beni Suef has been banned from entering the Journalists, photographers and media representatives with cell phones, laptops, cameras, or any electronic device at the trial of Mohammed Badi, the Brotherhood's leader and 92 others, in the well-known media case of Beni Suef events. In addition Islam al-Khayyat, a journalist at Al-Bawaba News, said that he and his colleagues were prevented, from the attending the meeting of the Ministers of Local Development and Agriculture meeting with deputies.33

Content censorship

In March, “Akhbar al-Youm”, state- owned- newspaper refused to print the weekly issue of the weekly “Al Masrya” newspaper because the cover contains the poem "Zajel" by the poet Ahmed Said; in solidarity with former club player Mohamed Abu Trika in the death of his father, reflects a fictitious dialogue with him and his mother, who asks him not to return to Egypt, for fear of accusing the regime him of terrorism.34

On April 11, 2017, the Egyptian newspaper “Al-Masry Al-Youm” prevented the publication of the article by Jamal Al Jaml, entitled "emergency article"! For criticism of the declaration of a state of emergency. 35On other hand, Tariq Hafez, the journalist and head of the judicial department of Al-Fajr newspaper, was released after 15 hours of questioning before the Supreme State Security

32 https://goo.gl/zIUuaq Mada Masr 33 https://goo.gl/zIUuaq “Journalists against Torture’s website” 34 https://goo.gl/KhsbVZ Journalists against Torture’s website” 35 . https://goo.gl/SozgJm “Al Masryoon” newspaper.

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) 24 Annual Report on: Freedom of Press and Media in Egypt 2017

Prosecution on charges of defrauding the General Council of the Supreme Judicial Council with the aim of undermining it, disturbing the public order and damaging the judiciary by publishing news, etc..that depending on publishing press reports on the popularity of appointments in the Public Prosecution, which included the names of children and relatives of judges and security leaders.36

Meanwhile, the release of the journalist of “Al -Fajr " newspaper, Yasmine Mabrouk, in the alleged charges of insulting and slandering former Minister of Justice Ahmed Al-Zind, and the publication of false news, following the report "Zind" against her. After publishing a press report on electoral fraud at the time of Chancellor Ahmed al-Zind as justice minister.37

In the same regard, Osama Darwish, a journalist for “al-Bayan” newspaper, was interrogated after revealing the leakage of the primary certificate in Gharbia through social media and legal affairs at the Directorate of Education in Gharbiya, accusing him of leaking exams.38

Moreover, The Cairo appeals court also released “Wael al-Ibrashi”, a journalist, on bail of 5,000 pounds, accusing him of influencing the investigation into the murder of Hossam Shukri, a young conscript in the city of Nasr, where he hosted the family of the soldier who died after being shot by the judge. Following a quarrel between them.39

In July, the Evaluation and Monitoring Committee of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation identified what it described as "severe excesses that have emerged clearly in 32 serials presented to different channels in the past Ramadan, which in some scenes were different from the traditions of the society and its social and ethical norms” In a report, In this work, the use of verbal abuse is clear40. It should be noted that this evaluation is not based on human rights and constitutional references, but on the basis of the views of the community based on the customs and traditions adopted by the members of the Committee.

36 https://goo.gl/CIIGE2 Al Fajer newspaper 37 . https://goo.gl/HLTk48 “Journalists against torture’s network” 38 https://goo.gl/kVi6UG “Journalists against torture’s network” 39 https://goo.gl/cxhVxr Al Masry Al Youm 40 https://goo.gl/8ujSiA Al Masry Al Youm

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) 25 Annual Report on: Freedom of Press and Media in Egypt 2017

In September, the Supreme Council of Media Regulation, headed by Makram Mohamed Ahmed, banned gay advertising or dissemination because homosexuality is a disease and disgrace that can be disguised rather than propagated until it is treated and disposed of in accordance with the statement of the Council in order to preserve public morals and respect the values of society and its correct doctrines, as The promotion of these slogans is a corruption of society should be punished. The Supreme Council for Media Regulation pointed out that banning the appearance of homosexuals in any of the print, audio and visual media is only an acknowledgment of the mistake of behavior and repentance.41

On November 15, the press writer Makram Mohammed Ahmed, chairman of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, said that after intensive consultations of the Council with Al-Azhar, the two parties agreed to limit the right of advisory opinion to only 50 scholars of opinion in Al-Azhar and Endowments.42

As the press writer Makram said that the council is responsible for the ethical, moral and professional content, including the fatwa, until legislation is passed regulating the fatwa in Egypt.43

Prevention of coverage

In January, the Minister of Education issued a decree determining the residence of journalists within the ministry to prevent the leaking of any information to any journalist without his permission and limiting their presence to the media office.44

The security prevented the editor of "Al Bedaya" , news website and photographer of "Al Watan" an Egyptian newspaper, to complete the coverage of the arrest of the families of the kidnappers in Libya and demanded them to leave.45

41 https://goo.gl/YQDBzQ Veto 42 https://goo.gl/fqDBHK Al Youm Al Sabaa

43 https://goo.gl/rHoSM9 Al Youm Al sabaa 44 https://goo.gl/DM08rz “Journalists against Torture Network” 45 https://goo.gl/zsWO56 Al Bedaya newpaper.

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) 26 Annual Report on: Freedom of Press and Media in Egypt 2017

In February, security forces in charge of securing a court of appeal at the Qasr al- Nil Court in Zinehoem Court prevented press photographers from attending the sentencing hearing in the appeal filed by Journalists' Syndicate Yahya Qalash, Khalid al-Balashi, the union's deputy, and Jamal al-Rahim, the secretary-general. Accused of harboring wanted persons.46

The residents also surrounded the church of "Margrages" in Tanta47, as well as the perimeter of the church, "Morksia"48 to attack journalists while covering the effects of terrorist bombings that killed dozens during the celebrations of “Christian Eid”

In May, the security of the Supreme Constitutional Court, on Saturday 6 May 2017, prevented journalists and media representatives from attending the monthly court hearing. Without giving reasons, in spite of the open nature of the hearings of the Court, and to allow representatives of the media to enter normally the court.49

Journalists were also barred from attending the trial of the defendants in the case known as the media for "breaking the sit-in of the Renaissance," where 379 defendants were tried, and a special session to try 44 accused of elements of the organization "Agnad Masr" terrorist. The police confirmed that the ban was based

On the instructions of the court50, As well as from entering “Dokki” Prosecution to cover the investigation with Khalid Ali.51

In June, the Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament, Dr. Ali Abdel-Al, decided to take out the journalists during the quarrels between the refusers and the supporters of Egyptian “Tiran and Sanafir” for not covering these quarrels and then retreat after

46 https://goo.gl/ifGP1v Masry Al Youm 47 https://goo.gl/0chnbv“Journalists against Torture Network” 48 https://goo.gl/b1eXiX Journalists against Torture Network”

49 https://goo.gl/bPCdHE Al Shorooq newspaper.

50 https://goo.gl/BNz03H Masry Al Youm 51 https://goo.gl/va9fC9 Soot Al Oma newspaper

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) 27 Annual Report on: Freedom of Press and Media in Egypt 2017

pressure from MPs and journalists, stressing that the transfer of the events of the session is the right of the entire Egyptian people.52

The security of the Abdeen court prevented the journalists from entering the court to cover the prosecution's investigation with the "border demarcation journalists" who had been arrested in the vicinity of the Journalists Syndicate.53

Security forces also prevented photographers from covering the trial of former Tourism Minister Zuhair Garrana.54

Cases of prevention are repeated in several events without clarifying the criteria for preventing coverage, and also without clarifying ways to remedy the prohibition that deprives society of the right to know. For example, “Al-Bawaba” newspaper was prevented from covering the Ramadan activity at Sawy Culturewheel, preventing journalists from covering the high school in Sinai, and preventing journalists from covering the Minister of Culture's tour of Faisal Book Fair.

The court also denied journalists access to cover the trial of human rights lawyer Khalid Ali, accusing him of committing a flagrant act on the public road. 55

On August 12, the Cairo Criminal Court, which was held in the fifth assembly, witnessed verbal exchanges between 41 people accused of trafficking in human organs and the media inside the courtroom, in addition to insulting and insulting

52 https://goo.gl/eSh2hi Al Bedaya Newspaper. 53 https://goo.gl/pzoGKD El Watan news 54 https://goo.gl/hwZXS6 “Journalists against torture network” 55 https://goo.gl/JNjzhj “Journalists against torture network”

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) 28 Annual Report on: Freedom of Press and Media in Egypt 2017

journalists. Some people attacked photographers saying “we will break cameras and no one mustn’t take pictures of us “He said.56

Block publishing and blocking websites

On January 1, Attorney General Nabil Sadiq issued a decree banning publication in the case of "Big Bribery" in which Jamal Al Laban, the State Council's Procurement Director, and Wael Shalabi, the Secretary-General of the Council of State were accused. 57

The Supreme Judicial Council has also decided to ban the publication of judges, advisers and members of the Public Prosecution for any news related to judicial affairs and judges on all websites (social networking sites) of any nature or those who maintain them. Violation of the prohibition entails the imposition of disciplinary sanctions, Investigate if necessary.58

Block sites

Representatives of a number of blocked Egyptian websites submitted a unified communication to the Attorney General and settled in a unified defense to represent them at a press conference at the Syndicate's headquarters. A meeting they held to discuss the steps to face the blocking. This came after an unknown executive authority on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 blocked the list of sites, claiming that they support terrorism, including Egyptian news sites are the extent of Egypt, the Egyptians and Arab Egypt. “Al Bursa” Newspaper, “Daily News Egypt”, “Cairo Gate” and others.59

On 9 September, the second chamber of the Administrative Court of Justice considered the case filed by “Mada Masr” Media against the “National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority”. The decision of the Second Circuit of the State Council for Satellite and Media Broadcasting was postponed at the

56 . https://goo.gl/WkydXJ Al Ahram 57 https://goo.gl/mSXQbf Al Masry Al Youm

58 https://goo.gl/5722xv Al Ahram Gate 59 https://goo.gl/LW2Tx2 Mada Masr

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) 29 Annual Report on: Freedom of Press and Media in Egypt 2017

request of the State Attorneys' The first hearing of the appeal filed by “Mada masr” last June was that the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority did not provide an official copy of the decision to block the site.

The meeting was attended by a representative of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and that the entity does not has the technical techniques that enable it to do so. He pointed out that there are other bodies such as National Security is the entity which has this and it is likely to have been issued by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, as its capacity to issue licenses to the media and other websites.60

Ninth :Recommendations of the report.

1) Introduce the draft law for the free flow of information for community discussion to all concerned circles and not only the national press institutions, but also the participation of journalists syndicate, private and partisan press institutions and interested civil society institutions.

2) Amendment of the Press Syndicate Law No. 76 of 1970.

3) Amending the Press Law No. 96 of 1996.

4) The abolition of the negative penalties for freedom in the field of press and publication, as a confirmation of the constitutional rights contained in the Constitution in Articles 47, 48, 20, 207, 208, 209 and 210 concerning the freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of the press.

5) Work on the economic restructuring of state-owned media and press organizations to avoid losses and to develop new media policies and strategies that achieve independence and neutrality to improve their competitiveness.

6) The legislator, who intervenes to regulate the freedom of opinion and expression and the press, must balance between the interests that are worthy of protection and limit the limits of this freedom, except for what may be the

60 https://goo.gl/iuWxq1 Mada Masr

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) 30 Annual Report on: Freedom of Press and Media in Egypt 2017

protection of another right that is more worthy of protection and in a way that achieves the social responsibility of the journalists in exercising their freedom of expression, Put more restrictions on press freedom.

7) Repeal the restrictive legal provision for the right to establish newspapers, which is stipulated in Law 96 of the Press Organization, provided that the establishment of newspapers shall be limited to notification, with the cancellation of the material condition in its establishment.

8) The necessity of activating the union for its role in the interest of developing the profession of journalism and attention to the interests of all members of the press community and not only to the members of the union, and linking the labor market and educational institutions.

9) The balance of membership of the three bodies, which included a mix of journalists and media, representatives of government agencies and the judiciary and professors of information in universities, so that the work is to choose the members of the three bodies of the election and not appointment in the short term time.

The Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies (ECPPS) 31 Annual on: Freedom of PRreses apndo Merdtia in Egypt 2017