Egypt’s proposed media law spooks journalists
Egyptian journalists are speaking out against a vast press and media bill, warning it grants wide powers to the government and places potentially heavy restrictions on journalists.
CAIRO — The Egyptian House of Representatives approved a press and media bill June 10 and sent it to the State Council for review. The bill contains three separate draft laws to regulate the Supreme Council for the Press and the Media (SCPM), the National Press Authority (NPA) and the National Media Authority.
However, parliament members, journalists and others have denounced the draft laws on the grounds that they grant wide powers to the government’s SCPM and NPA and allow the blocking of personal accounts on social networking sites. On June 12, members of the parliament’s 25-30 Alliance denounced Egypt’s media and press regulations and said that Articles 5, 10, 19 and 29 of the SCPM draft law contain vague language that could be interpreted in a way that violates both freedom of the press and the constitution.
