Anti-terror draft law violates freedoms: Egypt journalists

CAIRO

Egypt’s journalists syndicate has criticized proposed anti-terrorism legislation, warning that the draft law contradicted the country’s constitution and would violate press freedoms.

“The draft law represents a clear setback for the freedom of thought and press," the Cairo-based syndicate said in a Monday statement.

Last week, Egypt’s cabinet approved the draft law, which is now awaiting the approval of President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.

Al-Sisi currently holds legislative authority, as Egypt has yet to elect a parliament since dissolving the last elected assembly – which had been dominated by Islamist representatives – in mid-2012.

The cabinet approved the draft law one day after militants said to be linked to the Daesh group carried out coordinated attacks on a number of security checkpoints in Egypt’s restive Sinai Peninsula.

Media reports at the time had suggested that more than 60 soldiers were killed in the attacks. The Egyptian army, however, has put the death toll among security forces at 21.

According to the terms of the draft legislation, anyone who publishes news about terrorist attacks that contradict with official statements will face “no less than two years in prison.”

The journalists syndicate said certain articles of the proposed law were unconstitutional and would simply lead to reduced press freedoms rather than contribute to the fight against “terrorism.”

It added that the draft legislation would – if applied – adversely affect the right of journalists to acquire information from different sources and ultimately limit them to information from only one side.

“Journalists will not accept the articles [of the draft] that restrict press freedom,” syndicate chairman Yehia Qallash told Anadolu Agency.

Last month, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Egyptian authorities were holding 18 reporters behind bars – the highest number, it noted, since records began being kept in 1990.

According to the CPJ, six journalists had been sentenced to life in prison, while several others were being held in pre-trial detention.

Egypt has remained in the throes of political violence since the military ousted Mohamed Morsi, the country’s first freely elected president, in mid-2013 following protests against his administration.