On October 25th, Egyptian satirical TV host Bassem Youssef highlighted this polarization and poked fun at the entire political situation, including at the military. The show generated a massive controversy and the channel hosting the show, CBC released a statement on October 26th apologizing to its viewers for the content which it considered as “mocking the feelings of the Egyptian people and its icons”. Then, moments before the second episode was supposed to air on November 1st, CBC channel released a statement saying that the show (“Al Bernameg”), had been put off air until further notice.
" What we are seeing here is either the result of pressure exerted by the Egyptian authorities on the media, or a demonstration of zealous self-censorship. But promoting freedom of expression and guaranteeing freedom of the press is what we’d rather expect from the interim authorities if they really want to stand out from the authoritarian line followed by their predecessors ” .” declared Karim Lahidji, President of FIDH.
Youssef’s show is not the only case of crackdown on media professionals who have dared to report independently about the military. On October 29th, Al Watan journalist, Hatem Abu El Nur, was sentenced by North Cairo Military Court to one year imprisonment on charges of impersonating military personnel after he was arrested from his house in July 2013 and detained for 2 months. On October 5th 2013, Al Masry Al Youm Journalist Ahmed Abu Drea’ was sentenced by the Ismailia Military Court to a suspended sentence of 6 months, on charges of spreading false information abroad (about the “counter-terrorism” campaign currently conducted by the military in Sinai), entering restricted areas without permit, and filming restricted military areas after he was arrested on September 5th by the military in Al Arish, North Sinai. On November 3rd, the North Sinai military court sentenced journalist Mohamed Sabry to a suspended sentence of 6 months on charges of entering and filming restricted areas, after he was arrested on January 4th.
FIDH considers that referring journalists to military tribunals and condemning them to heavy sentences sets a dangerous precedent and will eventually prevent journalists from reporting independently in sensitive areas involving the military. FIDH recalls that military trials for civilians are prohibited under international law as they offer no guarantees of the right to fair trial or due process.
The crackdown on freedom of expression comes in light of a massive crackdown on Egypt’s Islamists and pro-Morsy supporters. On August 14th, security forces violently dispersed two sit-ins of Morsy supporters in Cairo leading to the death of hundreds and injury of thousands. [2] On September 3rd, the State Administrative Court ordered the closure of 3 Islamist channels; Al Jazeera Mubashir Misr, Al Quds and Al Yarmok. The Court said in its ruling that these channels fomented sedition and harmed national security. [3] FIDH considers that the closure of channels amounts to a violation of freedom of expression and recalls that presenters responsible for incitement to violence on these TV channels, as well as on State TV channels, should be held accountable individually.
On October 30th, a calligrapher was arrested in Kafr El Sheikh while painting slogans against the military on a street wall. The Prosecution ordered his detention for 15 days and charged him with “joining a prohibited group; inciting violence; insulting state institutions, the police and the military through writing statements on the walls in Kafr El Sheikh.” On October 29th, six female university students were arrested from the university bus after they chanted against the military while passing an army tank in Nasr City. [4] On October 31st, 21 female MB supporters were arrested by security forces for participating in a march in Alexandria. against the military coup on Stanley bridge in Alexandria. The prosecution has charged them with “joining a banned group that works on disabling the provisions of the law; promoting the mentioned group through writing and speech, possession of printed materials; assembling; threatening to use violence; disrupting the traffic; destroying public property.” [5] FIDH condemns what looks like systematic and massive arrests of protesters and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and recalls that security forces must respect the right to freedom of expression and assembly, and should in no way embark on a witch hunt against all those sympathizing with the deposed president.
Egypt has been witnessing regular protests by Morsy supporters which have often resulted in violent confrontation with security and military forces. The latest violent episode took place during the celebration of the 1973 war against Israel on October 6th where at least 53 persons were killed and 271 were injured. [6] The new draft law on protests prepared by the Egyptian Cabinet has gained wide criticism from national human rights organizations, including FIDH member organizations, who consider it to be a “repressive bill that not only puts draconian restrictions on the right to demonstrate, but imposes other curbs on the right to public meetings, strikes, sit-ins, and processions, thus utterly stifling the freedom of Egyptians to engage in all forms of peaceful assembly.” [7]
“ The Egyptian authorities, who are supposedly leading the country into a democratic transition, must realize that freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly are fundamental rights that cannot be compromised. Their limitation, for the purpose of public order or national security should remain the exception, not the rule. ” added Karim Lahidji.