US 'concerned' about media freedom in Egypt
US State department spokesperson says that legal actions
against Al Dustour and Al Fareen channl's talk show host Tawfiq Okasha were
counter to the spirit of 25 January revolution
AFP , Thursday 16 Aug 2012
The United States said on Thursday it was "very
concerned" about freedom of the press in Egypt after authorities moved to
put on trial two critics of new President Mohamed Morsi.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that the legal actions ran
counter to the spirit of last year's revolution, in which Egyptians took to the
streets and toppled strongman Hosni Mubarak.
"We are very concerned by reports that the Egyptian government is moving
to restrict media freedom and criticism in Egypt," Nuland told reporters.
"Freedom of the press, freedom of expression are fundamental tenets of
vibrant, strong democracies. They are part and parcel of what the Egyptian
people went into the streets for," she said.
"We join the Egyptian people in expecting that their new government
will support and extend freedom of the press. So this is something that we're
watching closely," she said.
Nuland specifically criticized Egypt for actions against the small
independent newspaper Al-Dustour and the Al-Faraeen channel. Both outlets have
ardently criticized Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement.
Al-Dustour's editor, Islam Afifi, will face trial on August 23 on charges of
spreading false news and inciting disorder, according to state media.
Tawfiq Okasha, the host of a talk show critical of Morsi on Al-Faraeen, will
go on trial on September 1 and the channel, which he owns, has already been
stopped from broadcasting.
House of Glass
(USA)
(USA)
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