الصحافة والاعلام en

Egyptian Coordination of Rights and Freedoms, was founded in early August 2014.It's an independent non profitable Egyptian NGO which operates neutrally, and which has no political, ideological or social polarization.

REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATIONS FOR PRESS AND INFORMATION WORKERS,

DURING THE PERIOD FROM JAN, 2015 UNTIL JULY 15, 2015

Executive Summary

Press suffered during the period of this study from many axes of violations, most notably of all is extrajudicial killizngs, where two new cases of murder were located, as well as the fabrication of charges against innocents in the case of Mayada Ashraf and trying to point fingers away from the police, despite the testimony of witnesses. That led so far to a sum number of 12 Martyrs of the press since June 30, 2013 until July 15, 2015. At another level photographers injuries represented (3 cases of serious injuries have been monitored in the report) the most important axis in the monitoring of firearm injuries, which means the lack of any safety standards for those who convey Event, the interior is the capital accused in the actions of shooting gunfire at photographers, according to the accounts of all the injured.Among the most important images of violations also was the sentences based on fabricated charges against reporters, which became during the study period a sum of 2 death sentences, one of them in his presence, and 17 sentenced to life imprisonment, and with respect to arrest and detention there has been 36 cases, including 7 editors, and 17 arbitrarily detained cases to date. As well as the arrest and release of 16 cases over the

circumstances of fabricated charges. In addition to 3 disappeared till now cases. It is unfortunate that a lot of arrests begins with enforced disappearance and then torture and fabrication of charges.As well as the images of other violations, the increasing cases of unfair dismissal in media institutions lately - since the beginning of the year 2015-

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REPORT CONTENTS

FIRST: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SECOND: INTRODUCTION

THIRD: METHODOLOGY

FOURTH: RELATED LEGAL TEXTS

FIFTH: EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS

SIXTH: SERIOUS INJURIES DURING PRACTICE

SEVENTH: DETENTION AND ARBITRARY ARREST

EIGHTH: THE PREVENTION FROM MEDIA COVERAGE AND PHYSICAL ASSAULT

NINTH: RAIDS AND SABOTAGE

TENTH: CIVILIAN AND MILITARY TRIALS

ELEVENTH: THE INCREASING CASES OF UNFAIR DISMISSAL

TWELFTH: CESSATION PROGRAMS AND CHANNELS

THIRTEENTH: ENACTED RESTRICTIONS

FOURTEENTH: RECOMMENDATIONS




under the title of expenses-cutting , not to mention the abuses inside prisons, poor conditions and denial of treatment.

IN THIS REPORT, YOU CAN READ:First: Executive Summary.Second: The introduction to the report.Third: report methodology.Fourth: The legal texts related.Fifth: extrajudicial killings.Sixth: serious injuries during practice.Seventh: detention and arbitrary arrest.

1. Detention for short periods (36 cases including 7 Editors).2. Arrest and Release over the pending cases (16 cases).3. Torture and enforced disappearances.4. New arbitrary arrest (17 cases).5. Enforced disappearance that didn't appear to date (3 cases)6. Disappearing inside prisons.7. Models from previous arrests.8. External arrest (one case).9. Violations and poor conditions and denial of treatment in prisons

Eighth: the prevention from media coverages along with physical assault.Ninth: raids and sabotage.Tenth: civilian and military trials.- (Two sentenced to death, one was sentenced during his presence, and 17 sentenced to life imprisonment)Eleventh: the increasing cases of unfair dismissalTwelfth: cessation of programs and channels.Thirteenth: enacted restrictions.Fourteenth: Recommendations.Fifteenth: Appendixes





INTRODUCTION

Press and media freedom have suffered from many images of abuse during the study period, violations included murder, torture and enforced disappearances, as well as arbitrary arrests and sentences. On the other hand, the authorities exercised many other images of restrictions such as the confiscation of editions and cessation of programs, as well as the issuance of hindering media work legislation.

REPORT METHODOLOGY

This report was based upon the following:

- Reports of "Arab Observatory for freedom of information and expression," especially its comprehensive report on the anniversary of the International Day for the freedom of the press, corresponding to May 3, 2015.- Observatory reports "of journalists against torture," especially those related to violations during the practice of the profession, like prevention from coverage or confiscation and deleting of cameras' contents.- Gathering of daily information inside the monitoring unit of the Egyptian coordination of Rights and Freedoms, a unit connected to a team of activists and lawyers all over the Republic to monitor the new aspects around the media and the arrest of journalists and media personnel, and violations of freedom of opinion and expression.

THE LEGAL TEXTS RELATED

- International covenants and charters paid a great attention to the freedom of information and expression. For example, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the year (1948) asserted on the right to freedom of expression which includes the search for, send and receive of information or ideas through any medium and regardless of frontiers. It came in: 1- Everyone has the right to hold opinions without interference and





2. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression ; this right includes freedom to seek various forms of information and ideas , receive and impart to others regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print form or in the mold of art, or through any other media of his choice ] .- Also the regional conventions stressed in their statements on ensuring and protecting freedom of expression, Article (10) of the European Convention on Human Rights protects the freedom of expression at the level of Member States, and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights guarantees the same right. As well as Article 13 of the American Convention for the Protection of Human Rights states that: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, expression, this right includes freedom to search for different types of information and ideas, receive and impart to others regardless of frontiers, whether oral or in writing or in print or in form of art, and in any media of his choice]...Specifically talking about the media, article 16 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, stipulated that: [1. Indigenous peoples have the right to establish their media in their own languages and to have access to all forms of non-indigenous media without discrimination. 2. States shall take effective measures to ensure that the media reflect the state-owned duly cultural diversity of indigenous peoples. States should encourage the media privately-owned to adequately reflect the cultural diversity of indigenous peoples, without prejudice to ensuring full freedom of expression].All of which are materials that confirm and reserve the right of expression in all its forms , also supports the right of access to information , and the right to transfer , with the need to provide those same equal opportunities for all orientations and cultures without discrimination ..Despite some turmoil in the Egyptian law that has been witnessed, but the Egyptian local constitutions were and still support this inherent right and emphasizes its importance , for example the provision of the Constitution of 1923 in both Article 14 and 15 :Article 14: Freedom of opinion is guaranteed. And every human being has the right to express thoughts verbally, in writing or filming or otherwise within the

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limits of the law. Article 15: press is free within the limits of the law, and control over newspapers is banned, warning newspapers or ceasing or invalidating them by administrative means also prohibited unless it is necessary for the protection of the social order ] ..The Constitution of 1956 asserted in two articles also on: [Article 44: Freedom of opinion and scientific research is guaranteed. And every human being has the right to express and propagate his opinion verbally, in writing, photography or in other ways within the law. Article 45: press, printing and publication freedom shall be guaranteed in accordance with the interests of the people and within the limits of the law]. The most famous Egyptian constitution of 1971 stipulated in Article 47: Freedom of opinion is guaranteed, everyone has to express his opinion and to publicize it verbally or in writing or by photography or by other means of expression within the law, and self-criticism and constructive criticism are insurance to the safety of national construction] ... In Article 210: [Journalists have the right to obtain news and information according to the conditions prescribed by law. There's no authority over them in their work other than the law].The emphasis on the freedoms of the press and media continued to be considered in the Constitution of 2012, where it was stressed in Article 48 that: [ freedom of the press , printing and publishing and other media is guaranteed, they also have the freedom and independence to serve the community and to express the public opinion trends and contribute to its composition and direction within the framework of the basic principles of the state and society and the preservation of the rights and freedoms and public duties , and to respect the inviolability of private life of citizens and the requirements of national security ;It is prohibited to cease or close or confiscate any means of the media without a court order, control over what is published by the media is prohibited and there may be an exception to impose specific censorship in time of war or general mobilization]. As well as emphasized in Article 49 [Freedom of publication and ownership of newspapers, of all kinds, is guaranteed once notified by the law for each Egyptian natural or figurative person, and the law regulates the establishment of radio, televised and digital media broadcasting stations ] .. Article 70 of the Constitution of 2014 pointed out that: [ the press , printing and





publishing freedom of foliar, audio-visual and online broadcasting is guaranteed , for the Egyptians, natural or figurative persons , public or private, the right of ownership and publication of newspapers, establishment of video and audio media , and the mass of digital media . Once notified newspapers are issued as regulated by law. The law regulates the establishment and ownership procedures of video and audio broadcasting stations and electronic newspapers]...

EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS (2 CASES OF MURDER)

- 2 new cases of murder during the study period- Fabricating charges to innocents in the case of Mayada Ashraf and trying to point fingers away from the police, despite the testimony of witnesses- Journalists Syndicate and the judicial authorities have not shown any interest in the issues of journalists' martyrdom - 12 martyrs are the total number of martyrs of the press since June 30, 2013 until July 15, 2015Sharif Refaat Feki, 21 years old, a journalist at "The people of Egypt" newspaper, was killed in the massacre of air defense"Defaa Gawi" Stadium (FEB 9, 2015), which claimed the lives of 67 of Zamalek Ultras "White Knights ". Bringing the number of the martyrs of the press since July 3, 2013 until February 2015 to 11 journalists.-Security sources announced on 27 April 2015, to have found the body of the Egyptian photographer Mohamed Jalal, who was working at Libyan Cyrenaica (Burqa) channel. He was found dead inside Libyan territory, after the passing of nearly a year since his disappearance. Ramadan had left from Aswan Governorate, heading to the Libyan land, to work for Cyrenaica (Burqa) T.V channel, his body was found in the evening of April 27, with his throat cut out and headless within the Libyan city called Albydaa).- The issue of killing fellow journalist Mayada Ashraf remains standstill, despite the documented testimonies of her male and female colleagues who accompanied her during the coverage of the demonstrations where she was killed , on March 28 of last year and who testified that she was killed from the





police gunfire, which were shot at all of them from behind during the dispersal of the demonstration, the prosecution charged civilians protestors as defendants of killing Mayada in an attempt to deflect blame from the real killer , which requires a firm position of the press so that we don't face a situation of a case-closed or even the presentation of a scapegoat to the impunity for the real culprit.-With the exception of the issue of Alhsinyi and Mayada Egyptian authorities or even the journalists' union in question of defending its members did not seem to pay any interest in the deaths of the other nine journalists, as their killers remain free until this moment. No one was condemned of killing Ahmed Abdel Gawad or Ahmed Assem or Tamer Abdel Raouf or Habiba Abdul Aziz or Musab al-Shami or Mohammed Helmi Mustafa or Douh, or Sharif Al-Faki or Mike Dean.

SERIOUS INJURIES DURING THE PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION (3 HITS)

- Photographers injuries represented the most important axis in the monitoring of firearms injuries, which means the lack of any safety standards for those who convey the event, although it is usually clear that he is holding a camera to perform his hob, which means the need to be protected, or getting away from his location and providing protection for him... -The interior is the main accused of the operations of shooting photographers with gunfire, according to the accounts of all the injured.•"Alaa Ahmed " photographer at Masrawy website tells the details of his injury with cartridge bullets while covering demonstrations witnessed by the region of "Matareya", saying that: " During our coverage of the demonstrations witnessed by the Matareya" area on Sunday, January 25, around ten o'clock pm I and two of my colleagues were surprised with three police armored vehicles firing cartridges all over the area. We tried to escape from the cartridge shots and hid behind a car, but I suddenly felt severe pain in my back because I was hit with a cartridge down my back. Then we tried to take shelter in one of the buildings in the region, but as soon as the owner knew that we reporters, he had us all expelled immediately. My colleague tried to get me out of the region through the side streets, and we headed to the hospital Qasr al-Aini, and there was my section boss at Masrawy waiting for me. I was screened under the x-ray machine and it was shown that a cartridge bullet penetrated my body and





settled near my left kidney which made it difficult to extract. Then I left the hospital and when I got home I got undressed only to find a tremendous amount of cartridge shots all over my body and arms, leaving clear traces and I did not feel the pain they caused until I went home. "• Cameraman Nader Nabil, a photographer at Masrawy, was hit with cartridge bullets in the head and arm during coverage of the clashes at Abdel Moneim Riad Square, ambulance area and Ramses Street downtown.• Photographer Amr Abdel -Rahman who works for Fajr newspaper was hit with cartridge bullets while covering demonstrations in memory of the revolution within the Ramses area• Seventh: detention and arbitrary arrest(1) Detention for short periods:- Since the first of January and until July 15, 2015 36 journalist, reporter and photographer were held on a temporary basis , including 7 female Editors , look up Appendix (1) , and among those detained cases, " Hamdi Bakri " reporter at Vito website who was detained by the police temporarily on January 25, 2015 during the coverage of the demonstrations on the anniversary of the revolution of January in Talaat Harb Square , he was subjected to verbal insults by the policemen after revealing his press identity. He was interrogated blindfolded, and was detained for some time at the camp of the Central Security forces commanded by Tora prison authorities before being released two days after detention. As well as the arrest of the brothers" Mahmoud" and "Ahmed" Helmy Al-Qaoud who are journalists and members of the union. They were arrested at the dawn of January 25 from their home in the village of Majd Rahmaniyah, Beheira Governorate. They and their family were exposed to a full house inspection as the forces scattered the contents of the house and seized their computers, mobile phones, before being released two days after detention.- Among the cases of detained female editors, was what happened with "Nourhanne Imran", editor at Wafd Gate journal; as she was detained on April 8 while conducting a press investigation inside the Family Court in Helwan. She was escorted to the Department of Helwan police and charged of " photography





without a permit," and she was released by the prosecution several hours later, as well as " Hagar Hisham" who works at Masr Al-Arabia website, as she was detained on March 28, 2015 in Dokki traffic police station for a few hours because of because of conducting a field investigation to her newspaper despite the disclosure of her press identity.(2) Temporary Arrests and Releases further case investigations (16 cases):One of those cases, look up Appendix (2):• " Ahmed Sameeh," director of Radio Hureiyetna was arrested from his workplace on April 4, forwarded to the prosecution on charges of working without a license despite the fact that the radio follows the human rights center run by him administratively. That center has been already raided a few times before because of its repeated criticism of the regime. He has been released later after being bailed five thousand Egyptian pounds at the disposal of the case.• Similarly, in January 31, 2015 the arrest of " Ahmed Abu Zeid," journalist at the Journal of freedom and justice, who also is a union activist, and a member of the movement of journalists pro- reform, where he was taken from the street after leaving the journalists' syndicate, as it seems he has been followed by security men who took him to his house to be searched, and then he was arrested and hidden until he appeared later. He remained in Custody in Giza central jail, then was released later pending the case.• On the same day a reporter and member of the electronic media syndicate "Tariq Mahrous" was arrested. He was forcibly hidden for a day and subjected to torture, beatings and electroshocks, and released later pending the case.• As well as the arrest of activists charged with managing or updating pages on social networking sites, there have been editors journalists arrested, their profession is journalistic editing and writing, they are: "Farida Ali Ahmed," 42-year-old, and "Samar Hassan Mahmoud al-Najjar,". They were charged with stereotyped and repeated rubber molded accusations which show up when there are no real charges or evidence-supported facts. As we can see the charges were "spying and joining a terrorist group founded at odds with the law and the Constitution intended to disable the provisions of the Constitution and





the dissemination of false news." Although they were released later in July 2015, however, they came out on pending further case investigation of the same fabricated cases. • The strange thing about the case of the arrested journalist, "Abdel Rahman Abu Gheit," in July 6, 2015 and his later release was that his arrest happened just because he disclosed his career as a journalist in one of the traffic commissions in October, then he was released later on pending further fabricated case investigation.(3) Torture and enforced disappearances• "Hassan Mahmoud Ragab Al-Qabani" was arrested and hidden forcibly during the period since his arrest on January 22 in the state security headquarters in October City until his appearance in the Supreme State Security prosecution in the 5th Compound area(Al-Tagamoa Alkhames), on Jan. 24. He was beaten on the face and neck, completely stripped of his clothes, shocked with electricity in different parts of his body and in sensitive places, he also fell off his knees which caused him some superficial wounds. His wife was arrested while she was standing in front of the High State Security Prosecution office at ten pm on the day of her husband's interrogation and remained in custody until twelve o'clock and half past midnight. He is now being held in very bad conditions within the Maximum security Scorpion (Aqrab) prison. • " Tariq Mohammed Mahrous Ibrahim" a member of the electronic media union , has been arbitrarily arrested from a cafeteria in January 31, 2015 , and then forcibly hidden for several days where he was tortured, ranging from dislocations and electric shocks all over his body even sensitive spots. He was also beaten all over his body, insulted with the ugliest words and threatened with kidnapping, knowing that he was suffering from a broken left foot and needed a surgery (he was released later on pending further case investigation)• "Ahmed Abu Zeid Mohammed Tnobi" a journalist at El freedom and justice had been detained since January 31, 2015 and forcibly hidden for two days. He was assaulted physically with fists' punches, wooden and electrical sticks. He was threatened to be attacked along with his family if he did not admit to the charges fabricated to him and was placed in a jail-cell called the refrigerator because of the intensity of the cold inside of it without having blankets. His





health has deteriorated as a result of his confinement with the criminals where he finds it difficult to breathe. One of the exhibits seized with him was, "the annual report of the Arab Observatory for freedom of information and expression" and the rental receipt of a hall to hold annual Observatory Conference at the American University in Cairo, where they were considered by the investigations authorities as incriminating evidence against the journalist who was working at the time as one of the researchers of the Observatory for the defense of freedom of the media and the press views. (He was released later on pending further case investigation)• After the detention of security forces in Damietta to two reporters working for one of the satellite channels, namely Mohammed Noarj and Ahmed Saleh during conducting a talk with the family of one of the detainees. They were led to an unknown location where they were physically tortured in order to force them to confess to crimes they did not commit, which was announced by the two journalists after appearing inside Scorpion Prison. 4. Arbitrary arrests continuing till today (17)Here we monitored 17 cases of journalists and media workers who were arrested during the study period (Appendix 3), while they are still in detention till now. It's strange that lots of the arrests had begun with forced disappearance that lasts for different periods of time.Among those cases:- The arrest of the manager of "Yaqeen News" network " Yahya Khalaf " on July14, which happened after the security forces stormed the headquarters of news network " Yaqeen " located downtown Cairo area, confiscated all of the hardware and equipment, arrested the director of the network, " Yahya Khalaf " and Ibrahim Abu Bakr " Network Editor " and others while the editor was released later and they retained the arrest of the network director and his imprisonment pending investigations… among the accusations drawn by the prosecution was the non-existence of a license to the news network, possession of editing devices without a license and some of the charges related to the works in addition to the charges of promoting the news against State and its institutions. It is noteworthy that this is the second time that the storming of the headquarters of the network happens, as the security services has already





arrested all who were around the headquarters at the beginning of February of last year. Following that they were interrogated by Qasr al-Nil Prosecution where they were released on bails ranging between (5-10) Thousands Egyptian pounds.- One major case as well; the case of photographer "Islam Gomaa"; after his disappearance for 35 days. He was interrogated by the military prosecution in Cairo after his kidnap before his wife and children on 23 of last April from his residence in Faisal neighborhood in Giza. He was forcibly hidden for 35 days in which the photojournalist Islam Gomaa was exposed to all types of physical and psychological torture. "Islam" was standing before the military court in Cairo on Thursday, May 28th 2015, without the knowledge of his private lawyer or the knowledge of his family… his family confirmed for now his existence inside the Appeal prison within the Security Administration in Cairo. None of the lawyers or his family were able to see him, while "Islam" appeared in a video recently released by the Interior Ministry admitting the crimes, showing signs of torture and long thick beard expressing the length of his disappearance.- Similarly, in June 29, 2015 journalist and member of the Journalists' Syndicate "Yasser Abu Ela" was arrested, forcibly hidden and showing up later. As he was arrested from his residence at "Badrashin Giza" and led by the security forces to an unknown location until he was located in Badrashin Police Department. Till now all he is getting is a detention renewal without being brought to the headquarters of the prosecution.- Continuous forced disappearances until today (3 cases)Namely as follows:- Hijacking media personnel, "Mohammed Abu Soul" who has not yet appeared. His brother Mr. Faisal Hassan Mohamed Abu Soul has filed a complaint to the Office of the Attorney General on the forced hiding of security forces to his brother Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Abu Soul against the law. The complaint was registered with number 12486 for the year 2015 classified as petitions to Attorney General.- Kidnapping media personnel Musab Hamid who remains disappeared till this moment, he was a former reporter at channel Egypt 25 and a freelance reporter





for now- he was kidnapped on Friday, July 10, 2015 from his residence in Gharbia Governorate, where security forces stormed his house after breaking the door by force and beating him as well as verbally insulting his wife and children. This is in addition to stealing all computers and mobile phones found there. Until this moment "Musab" still disappeared which is considered a violation of all laws and constitutions.- Disappearance of "Mohammed Rizk," editor at Portal News Website since (May 24, 2015). His brother-in-law confirmed that "Mohammed" over the past few days has been receiving menaces because of some of what he wrote on the social networking site Facebook where he attacked both government and regime, and the majority of menaces were dialed from private numbers that do not show up. Abdel Moneim, added that the morning of the kidnap, the journalist at Portal News received a fresh threat of kidnapping in case he doesn't pull back his writing and in the evening of the same day "Rizk" told them about what happened to him, and this was the last call and then no news from him. But some security leaders assured them that he was being held by the National Security for a few days and will be released - he said. Abdel Moneim stressed that filed a complaint and demanded that the Security to quickly reveal his location, however, this did not happen and he is still forcibly disappeared yet.6. Disappearing from inside prisons:- Disappearance of media personnel Wael Alhadiny from inside his cell, and then showing up later. Wael Alhadiny ia a journalist from Al-Mahala Al-Kobra, 44-year-old, marrie, with two daughters and a boy, and his wife is nine months pregnant. Security forces broke into and damaged his house in last November, terrorized his children and his abducted him to an undisclosed location. He was tortured within the state security headquarters for a week before he was secretly interrogated at Mahala prosecution, without a lawyer which made him face several fabricated charges that were addressed to him and caused him to be locked up in Qotour and Tanta jails for 6 months. When he was introduced later to the court first and second judges stepped down, after discovering that he doesn't deserve confinement and a third session was determined where the third judge gave him an acquittal from the charges attributed to him. He was then taken to Al-Mahala Al-Kobra police station to complete the procedures of





his release in last May. Since then he has remained disappered until showing up again on July 5 accused of new charges at Al-Mahalla Al-Kubra prosecution, the place of his residence and was deported to Mahala police station.- Members of the National Security system took away both Sameh Mustafa and Abdullah Al-fakharny, members at "Rassd" network management board, in the morning of June 6, 2015, from the reception of Tora prison. Where both Sameh and Al-fakhrany were transferred to an undisclosed location under the pretext of questioning. It is noteworthy that both Sameh and Al-fakhrany are sentenced to 25 years in prison in the case known in the media as the "Rabia operations room". Then they appeared later.7. Old models of arrests since June 30, 2013 and continuing till now- The arrest and detention of more than 100 journalists and media continues, that's according to fabricated cases. Most of them on pending cases or pre-trial detention which is renewed only upon investigation memorandums sent by Investigation Bureau, or national security ..** Models worthwhile ... know them … Using documents ... jounalist" Ibrahim Aldrawi "proven innocent and still security authorities forward him to the high-risk registered criminals ward because of the tag name" journalist "Among the defendants in the case of spying, which caused him a sentence him to life imprisonment, although the confirmation of innocence by all documents, was "Ibrahim Aldrawi " and that his connections with Hamas was only motivated by his journalistic work, even more with direct permission from the security authorities, as evidenced by the exit visa attached to his travel papers, which confirms that he did not leave the country only after the authorities knew of his mission and role as a journalist.It is worth mentioning that the journalist Ibrahim Aldrawi the member of the Egyptian Journalists' Syndicate, with membership number 7070, has been arrested on 08/16/2013, while he was in the Media Production City as a guest analyst of breaking news on one of the satellite channels, namely (Egyptian-hour program) on the channel Rotana Masreya hosted by Media man Tamer Amin. He has been charged of collaborating with the Islamic resistance





movement Hamas, entering Gaza through tunnels and interviewing some Palestinian figures in the case number 371, despite the fact that the accompanying papers confirm that his entrance to Gaza was with a visa approved by the Egyptian authorities, while the interview with Palestinian figures is just normal considering the nature of his job as a journalist, annexed with them a group of press released articles in the national newspaper Akhbar edited by journalist Ibrahim Aldrawi from Gaza.It is worth mentioning that Aldrawi who is now incarcerated in the ranch supplement jail (Al-Mazraa), has been subjected to a number of violations among them was beating during his stay in Scorpion prison, banning from treatment, medical examination and analysis, as well as his recent transfer to the ward of high-risk registered criminals as a disciplinary order to him conducted by Security forces because of using the word press on his clothes at the trial session in (June 2, 2015). Following the verdict he has been prevented from receiving any visit until now.Akhbar newspaper text of the interview published in July 5, 2011 http://www.masress.com/elakhbar/42609Another dialogue published by Almasry Alyoum private newspaper, which is pro current regime, in 2010 http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/printerfriendly.aspx A leaked message … Egyptian journalist arrested: "This was beyond my imagination"Hossam Issa... an Egyptian journalist at the age of 26, arrested from his house at the dawn of January 23, 2014, and remained in custody for a whole year. The prosecution renewed his detention every 45 days until last January, where he was forwarded to the Criminal Court.In June 2014, Hossam Issa was assaulted inside the deportation vehicle along with his companions inside of it, by some thugs who beated them using "Thick canes and Tracks " , which led to the injury of Isa with a gaping head wound and loss of consciousness. Security justified the abuse as a reaction to their trial to escape from their incarceration.





During last April a trial session was set for him and then was postponed to June 30 without the presence of Hossam inside the court hall, then it was also postponed.From inside the Burj Al Arab prison where he was incarcerated, Hossam Issa wrote a letter that was leaked later, describing his vision of prisons before and after his imprisonment.Message Text:

I've never imagined myself into the reality of prison. Despite my repeated visits to various prisons, it's never occurred to me not even for a moment to imagine the hours spent inside jail by its inmates. The farthest thing I could imagine was a featureless person sitting the squat, leaning towards a miserable wall, and behind him writings such as (I knew that death took people over and over so I wrote my name before my death as a memorial, remember me and don't you forget)Gazing his eyes at the cell ceiling with a fading light that comes and goes piercing the atoms of dust inside the cell in front of him. Superficial visualization to a small-space reality and forked details. I remember the first thing that hurt me after prosecution has booked me an entry ticket to the basement of the Directorate, was that black huge bleak door, opening his mouth, with rusty teeth, among the time intervals my lungs forced me to close my eyes and head towards it to put my mouth between his teeth to inhale the air of life out of it. I saw it rigid, cold and stiff just like the dead, and just like the dead rip your hearts and eyes gaze at them if they moved, as the noise of its hinges was associated with the entry of a victim followed a victim of a failed power and a distorted view.You are a bad omen... I attacked it with my sentence- the cell door- it didn't care and glaciated ignoring my words and opening his mouth, not hostility between you and me occurred before today, I used to treat your visitors with courtesy and life was calm between us before you were unfolded in front of me, you dreaded.Why did you become my opponent and showing me your hostility with your pouting face just like the devil?





Did you forget a lifetime of appreciation and attention from me to you? Did you forget who was bringing oil for the treatment of your hinges that moaned out of roughness? Never was I cheap to decorate your peers on every occasion, here you can see a verse, here a saying by the Prophet Muhammed(peace of Allah be upon him) and here a saying of wisdom.I dressed you and your peers with the best Blazers, that I considered your prominence as a sign to my good looks, I didn't stop at that but increased my favors to you to the extent that I decorated your largest family with tweets inside my home, that its movement was like parrots in their pompous situations. I also made him an eye, although one but charming to embrace with my own eyes and it gave me what you can't give me now.Why did you waste your dignity and handed over your body to the hands of villains, now?? One of them holding your waist, dragging it to you whenever he wants and another kicking you with his foot whenever he wants. You laid down before their cruelty, made peace with their humiliation and rebelled against me after my good treatment, what to see, but ungratefulness towards me, as well as giving you a command and you enjoy it just like old times.I finished my thoughts about the iron door and opted to sleep rather than continuing to write about this Rascal applying a rule on one of the walls saying (you can do without an unlawful sidekick).I had a long sleep that the door sneaked into my dreams I saw it ... "the door" with a broken heart that made it retreat from locking me and was based mortified on the wall behind it. I saw a happy denouement from beyond its borders, I know this smiling spectrum that only comes with good. I left with it in a hurry and with dignity after a long patience and huge certainty I noticed that the traitor is whining as if it was calling me for sympathy. I stopped and listened to it after my self-assurance that the promise of Allah was about to occur. I beg you, favor doer and well-mannered... I beg you for the sake of old days between us to forgive me and not to punish me..!I was misled and enchanted that I went astray from the truth sometimes, and other times terrified by the whip. I followed my own feelings and was deceived





by wishful thinking that's why I was left mortified when the command of Allah arrived.You cannot afford my punishment, I will save it for your big devil along with his collaborators, instigators and supporters but those looking like you are just good at sealing survivors in. 8. External arrest- Arresting media man Ahmed Mansour in Berlin airport based on an Egyptian arrest warrant, and then released later.9. Abuses inside prisons, poor conditions and the deprivation of treatment and medication- The tightening conditions and deprivation of medication in the case of the journalist Hani Salah al-Din, while his eyes are endangered unless an emergency surgery is performed on them. Where many complaints were monitored by the press, which were filed by the family of journalist "Hani Salah al-Din" incarcerated inside Tora prison. The complaints were about his deteriorating health condition and his need for special health care and maybe some surgeries in the eye. After the intransigence continued for several months, the Interior approved of his transfer of the hospital to do the necessary tests after the announcement of journalists to organize a demonstration to support him. On the family part they blamed the authorities for the health conditions of, "Hani Salah al-Din and the danger his eyes were subjected to inside his incarceration especially that he also suffers from health problems in the knee and back. The journalist Hani Salah al-Din has been detained since November 28, 2013 and has been held in Scorpion prison for a period of six months.• Journalist Abdul Rahman Shaheen faced physical torture at the headquarters of his detention in Ataka prison, Suez. Where he was severely assaulted with beating, electrocution, and turning off the cigarette butts in different parts of his body. Until now they keep postponing the appeal ruling in a case in which he has been already sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment.The journalist "Abdel-Rahman Shahin" family has confirmed to the observatory that his health still deteriorating since he was transferred from the Ataka prison





to till his detention in"Faisal" police department in Suez which was for unknown reasons and then to Zagazig prison. In Faisal Department frequently he suffered of repeated law blood circulation and fainting which indicates the deteriorating health situation he is in as well as deliberate neglect in dealing with his case; especially that he has been separated from his fellow prisoners of conscience, and detained along with criminal prisoners without justification. For its part "Shaheen's family "held coup authorities responsible for his safety and health, and called for experts, activists and jurists to immediately intervene to save his life. On February 11 reporter, "Abdel- Rahman Shahin" was assigned to a military trial in a case that is not clear yet. It is noteworthy that the journalist "Abdul Rahman Shaheen" has been sentenced in a case involving his exercise of his profession to three years, and is also under investigation in another case. • Journalists "Ahmed seppia" and "Hassan Kabbani," journalist and writer, "Walid Shalaby" suffer inside maximum security scorpion prison from a severe deterioration of their conditions there where the entry of food and medicines is prevented. They are also deprived from visits, clothing, and blankets. The detainee also is served only one insufficient meal per day which led them to a severe shortage in weight and deterioration in health, especially as they are deprived of the purchase of water from the"canteen" while the water in prison is not fit to human disposal.• "Abdul Rahman Abdul Salam Yacout"correspondent at Karmouz website in Alexandria, was electrocuted inside his cell by the security forces, who arrested him on Saturday, March 21.• Intransigence continued happening to journalists in Scorpion prison, represented in the prevention of the visits, deprivation of adequate food, launching sniffer dogs towards them and stripping the cells of all its contents. Wife of journalist Ahmed seppia confirmed that she cannot now, especially after the verdict of life imprisonment issued at her husband, to get a permit to visit him.• In (June 6, 2015 ) " Rassd " news network confirmed that its correspondent , " Mahmoud Mohamed Abdul Nabi " who is incarcerated in Burj Al Arab prison was subjected to torture, beatings, verbal assaults, confiscating all their personal belongings, that was since his transfer to " discipline ward " on late May 26





after his last trial session. It is noteworthy that Mahmoud Abdel Nabi has been imprisoned since 702 days after his arrest in the events of Sidi Bishr clashes in Alexandria in 2013 after being charged with possession of firearms and inciting riots and terrorizing citizens.• A photo taken in Khaled Abdel Raouf Shlob's trial (photographer - Rassd network) showed his poor illness condition, after going on hunger strike for a long period of time, which caused him some digestive system diseases, and caused him a great loss of weight, especially with the lack of appropriate health care or medication.• Journalist "Ibrahim Aldrawi's" family, complains of depriving him from the visits since the rule session to life imprisonment in June 2015.Eighth: the prevention of coverages and 51 cases of physical assault (by security forces)- Journalists and press suffered from a number of violations by the security forces or their companion thugs. Journalists have suffered from the prevention of the security forces to them, from media coverages especially in ministries and state institutions, or during the visits of official personalities to different institutions. Prevention also included many of the trials that have resonance and fame to the public opinion, see Appendix (4)...Ninth: the raids, confiscation and sabotage (7 episodes)• In January 27, 2015, the Ministry of the Interior removed the advertisements of Al-Arabi channel (which broadcasts from London) from the streets of Cairo, claiming that the channel is working against the Egyptian national security.- In Mar 10, 2015 there was the confiscation of the issue of "Al-Watan" newspaper because of the investigation handling the abstention of more than one sovereign state to pay the income taxes of the workers inside the newspaper, which amounts according to sources inside the newspaper to 0.8 billion Egyptian pounds.- Confiscation of the annual issue of Al-Watan newspaper published (May 11, 2015) after printing about 48 thousand copies of it by one of the security agencies with deep concern, where the incident is considered the second of its





kind happening to the same newspaper in less than three months. A source from inside Al-Watan newspaper said to the observatory, "that one of the sovereign authorities stopped yesterday's edition, in objection to the title of the annual issue of the newspaper, which was released on the occasion of the third anniversary of its founding and titled" 7 stronger than Sisi ". It dealt with the deep state that stand in the way of purging the Interior and mass media along with sovereign authorities and businessmen. The source added that, " these sovereign authorities demanded the newspaper management to modify the title of the file to the " seven things more powerful than reform " in addition to deleting Alaa Ghatrifi's article who is the newspaper's editor in chief, in which he was talking about one of the officers at the presidential palace who writes a daily article in the Seventh Day (Al-youm Al-sabie) newspaper under the nickname" son of the state, ". Ghatrifi attacked in his article, the editor-in-chief of the Seventh Day newspaper, without mentioning its name, as well as attacking the officer writer. Ghatrifi's article was under the name" the officer son of the palace writes". These were the conditions of sovereign authorities to allow the newspaper's release."• In April 4, 2015 Radio freedom (Hurreyatona) of the Centre of Andalus for the Study of tolerance was raided and inspected claiming to know the way the news were edited, trying to figure out the power which the radio belongs to. Security forces arrested the center's director Ahmed Sameeh, and forwarded him to the prosecution, which released him later.• In April 7, 2015 Syria Al-Ghad channel was raided and shut down, one of the opposing channels to the Syrian regime, which broadcasts from inside Egypt since 2011. All of its equipment were confiscated and its staff was expelled. In April 18, 2015, a raid on an artistic production company in Dokki which provides news services for satellite channels, including Arabi channel which broadcasts from London and the satellite channel"Al-Maseera", the Iraqi satellite channel Al Rasheed, Iraqi satellite channel Al-Masar and the Iranian Al-Alam.Just as the company's headquarters was raided, Mamed.h., the C.E.O of the company, a 27 -year-old who holds a computer diploma was arrested in possession of an editing device, a CPU loaded with computer programs bearing





current meetings and events that were covered inside the country, and a lighting Stand unit used during filmed interviews. It turned out that there is an equipped shooting site (location) inside the company's headquarters.- Security forces stormed the headquarters of Yaqeen news network in July 14, 2015, and confiscated all of the equipment and arrested two members of the work crew, including the network manager, "Yahya Khalaf", and subsequently "Ibrahim Abu Bakr," has been released, while continuing the detention of "Khalaf" till now.Tenth: civilian and military trials (2 sentenced to death, one was sentenced during his presence, and 17 sentenced to life imprisonment)- On February 11 journalist Abdel Rahman Shahin (journalist at Al-horeya wa Al-adala newspaper) was referred to the Military Court, in a case involving another 199 defendants. It is to be mentioned that Shaheen has been sentenced to three years in prison in a case involving the exercise of his profession. He has been transferred abruptly from "Ataka prison" in Suez to "Faisal" police department in February 10, 2015, where he was separated from his fellow political prisoners and placed in a dungeon.- On April 8, the military prosecution referred the writer who specializes in family affairs and a member of the General Union of journalists and media Africans professionals Mahmoud Fathi Kulaawi, to the military court which considered first session of his case on last Feb. 9. The Security forces prevented Kulaawi from traveling on October26, and then deported him to his home in Beni Suef, where he remained incarcerated until now.- April 11, was the date when the judgment sentences in the case known in the media as the "Rabia operations room" where journalist "Walid Shalaby" was sentenced to death, and life imprisonment to another 15 media and press workers, they are:Hani Salah al-Din, Ahmed Subaie, Mussad Barbari, Ibrahim Al-Tahir, Magdi Abdel Latif, Hassan Hosni Al-Qabani, Jamal Fathi Nassar, Abdo Desouki, Khaled Hamza, Youssef Talaat, Ahmed Abdel Hafez, Amr Farag, Mohammed Mustafa al-Adli, Samehy Mustafa, Abdullah Ismail Fakhrani





The main charge addressed to reporters defendants in the case was publishing and broadcasting news, photos and videos to incite public opinion and harm the national security of the country and national unity of the people, traditional accusations addressed usually to each opposition journalists, and although the Egyptian Constitution currently in force prevents the confinement in the publishing and media lawsuits, but the court ruled them to life imprisonment.- April 19 the verdict in the appeal of the correspondent "Rasha Jafar" which was a year in prison on charges of photographing demonstrations in Port Said, down from two years sentenced by the first instance court. She has been deported from the courtroom to prison to begin serving her sentence immediately.- ( May 7, 2015 ) Misdemeanors Court of Helwan, headed by Judge Tarek Atia, sentenced Moataz Matar, program host at Al-Sharq channel, to a year of imprisonment- in absentia- with labor and make him pay interim compensation in Civil Case No. 9090 for the year 2015 Helwan Misdemeanors. This was over charging him of the immediate misdemeanor set up by the family of counselor Khaled Mahjoub judge of Wadi Al-Natrun.- (May 31, 2015) journalist Ali Youssef Shaaban "Al-Bedaya Newspaper "was sentenced in his final appeal- in presence- to a year and 3 months of imprisonment because of doing his job in the coverage of events of Al-Raml department in March 29, 2013.- (9 June 2015 ) Dokki Misdemeanor Court, headed by Judge Hazem Hachad, and the Secretariat of Aladdin Ibrahim sentenced journalist writer Mohamed Akaddosa- in abstenia- to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of 500 pounds , on charges of spreading false news.- Misdemeanor first instance court in Nasr City, headed by Judge Mohammed Baghdadi president of the court, sentenced all of Magdy El-Gallad, editor-in-chief of Al-Watan and host of the program " Lazem Nefham " at the satellite channel CBC, head of the channel Mohamed El-Amin and preparation programmer Wael Saad, to 6 months and a fine of 10 thousand pounds on charges of publishing false news. Head of financial irregularities sector at the Central Auditing System, Fathi Ibrahim Azzazi, has filed a lawsuit accusing the journalist writer, the owner of the channel and the preparation programmer of





spreading false news including wasting public funds and disclosing the secrets of the system in a way that doesn't relate to the truth. The lawsuit carried the Case No. 25 537 for the year 2015 before Nasr City Misdemeanor Court and included the publication of false news through episodes of the program "Lazem Nefham"which is broadcasted on CBC channel the accusations included wasting public funds and disclosing the secrets of the system, in a way that doesn't relate to the truth.- 16 June 2015, journalist and Minister of Information, "Salah Abdel-Maksoud," was sentenced to death –in abstenia- other than life imprisonment sentence on each of the journalist, "Mohsen Radi" and journalist "Ibrahim Aldrawi" two members of the Egyptian Press Syndicate. In the two cases known in the media as escaping and spying (contacting with foreign authorities).

THE INCREASING CASES OF UNFAIR DISMISSAL OF REPORTERS

- Cases of unfair dismissal in media institutions increased during the recent period-since the beginning of the year 2015- under the name of expences-cutting and despite the assurances of some people that these institutions are making big profits, but the expulsion cases has increased without putting regard to labor law or referring to the journalists' syndicate, which made suffering of journalists to continue once with the authorities and once more with their press institutions. - "Al-Ahram" Foundation, presided the press institutions involved in the "press massacres", that was after its decision to expel 160 journalists, justifying its situation with "reducing expenses", which forced the dismissed journalists to organize a series of protest-stands and filing a number of memos and complaints to the Supreme Council for the press, and to journalists' syndicate to demand their return to work, but to no avail. - The same thing was done by the newspaper " Al-youm Alsabie", where they expelled 134 journalists without giving reasons, only to come back later and justify its position with that the journalists were being " trained," and were expelled after passing the training period, as well as "Dot Masr" website, which expelled 76 journalists without warning, and then the site management resorted to bargaining dismissed journalists for their materialistic rights in order to dissuade them from demanding their legitimate rights.





- And there also Al-Dostour Journal which expelled 30 journalists as well as "Al-Sabah" newspaper which expelled the same number of journalists, and newly joining the list Al-Shorouk newspaper with 18 journalists expelled without cause in addition to poor conditions of the journalists over there and the low-rate of salaries. Wael Abdul Aziz, the founder of the Association of Victims of Al-Youm Al-Sabie, said that the phenomenon of arbitrary expulsion of journalists increased in the recent period, especially in the websites, for example in Al-Youm Al-Sabie 134 journalists were expelled from the newspaper without paying attention to the labor law and the need to notify the dismissed two months before so that they can adjust their situation, the thing that did not happen. Abdul Aziz stressed that he founded the Association for the dismissed victims of the newspaper to file a lawsuit demanding compensation after non-interference on the side of journalists' syndicate in the case, because most of the dismissed employees are not members of the syndicate, stressing that the newspaper claimed that the dismissed were trainees which is not true as some of them worked for long periods on the newspaper's website.-In " ONA news " Agency the owner had another opinion to challenge the law and flouting the freedom of the press, as a published information on businessman Samih Sawiris, brother of the owner of the agency ONA Naguib Sawiris , caused the expulsion of two journalists , without questioning or in- advance warning. The expelled information editor who declined to be named, says, "I am on a daily basis editing news from the agency reporters to be later published on the website and on that day we published information about Samih Sawiris, where the shift's president made a modification to the title I wrote. ONA's expelled editor proceeds saying" minutes after the publication of the news, instructions came from the management of the site to erase the news and suspending the news editor and his shift's supervisor from work and we were transferred to questioning which never happened, we were told to stay away from the agency until someone contacts us which also never happened and we didn't even get the rest of our claims which was two months' salary." journalists in "ONA" News Agency tried to organize a strike action to demand their salaries which have been on hold since the beginning of 2015 for a period of three months. All what the administration did, however, was the expulsion of all journalists and decided to conduct the work at the agency using some interns without pay, until there is a stability in their financial situation.





Journalists tried to resolve the crisis by filing complaints over the past six months, concerning the management of the Agency and the delayed claims and that they’re not hired despite their three years of work for the agency. They also sent a manifesto via e-mail to both Albert Shafiq Chairman of the Board and Gamal El-Shenawi editor-in-chief, demanding the need to make an appointment for the disbursement of their financial dues, while the administration replied to them through the editor manager with the decision of the expulsion of all journalists to cut expenses.- Shorouk newspaper crisis is considered the only case in which the Journalists Syndicate Council intervened firmly in a trial to resolve it. As the Bar Council held a meeting joined by chairman of the Press Syndicate Yahya Qalash, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Imad al-Din Hussein and son of the Board Chairman, Sharif Al-Moalem". Confirmations came out that the syndicate will defend any syndicated journalist because, according to its description, he is considered a "red line ", while the non-syndicated journalist can be expelled because he is not appointed, just at the time when officials in the newspaper confirmed that the procedure is the result of a severe financial crisis faced by the enterprise. It was agreed in the end to solve the subject in a friendly way, and undo the decision to dismiss journalists, but this did not happen also as admitted by some sources within Shorouk newspaper that they agreed to keep four out of 18 dismissed journalists, while their crisis still not resolved."• CBC channels group decided to expel 170 workers for economic reasons without prior notice.Twelfth: Stopping programs and channels from broadcastingThe first months of 2015 witnessed a termination of many of the programs on political backgrounds, as a result of the decline in the press freedom space in Egypt, including:• In January 4, 2015, Al Hayat II channel decided to terminate Masr Al-Gadida program hosted by Moataz Al- Demerdash, after three years of its broadcast. Sources from inside the program crew said in special statements for "Shorouk" newspaper that the reason is a dispute between the channel management and the program crew, although the validity of the contract endorsed between the two parties wasn't consummated.





• In February 6, 2015, Al-Arabia news channel terminated "Al-Hadath Al-Masry" program which is specialized in covering Egyptian events, without announcing the termination of the program officially or disclosing any details.

LEGISLATIVE RESTRICTIONS

The governing authority continued to impose more restrictions on media freedom in Egypt and turn it into a mouthpiece and a spokesperson representing its orientations, policies, and inclinations.• Mass media published features of a new government bill draft for electronic crimes, which represents an attempt by the government to impose control over websites and the media of social communication. According to this bill, the government has the authority to shut down any website that it considers a threat to national security which opens the door to close a lot of news, political and religious sites, with more severe punishment for those who refrain from implementation to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than three years and a fine ranging between 500 thousand and one million Egyptian pounds, while the punishment sentence could reach up to life imprisonment and a fine ranging between 3 to 20 million Egyptian pounds if the result of the crime of not blocking led to the death of one or more persons or damage to national security, in addition to a life sentence for anyone who commits a computer hacking crime or publication or leaking of confidential data or information, with the purpose of disturbing public order or endangering the safety and security of society, or harming national unity and social peace , or the contempt of heavenly religions .- The "anti-terrorism" bill draft which to be adopted, includes five articles, namely, (26. 27-29 - 33-37) which explicitly violates Article 71 of the Constitution, and what it stipulated represented in " ban of the signing of any penalty that deprives human's freedom concerning the crimes committed by ways of Publishing or publicity. These articles also confiscate journalists' right to access information from different sources and excludes it to one side, which represents a clear relapse to the freedom of opinion and publishing.- Articles of the law are full with lots of elastic phrases that lead to the confiscation of freedom of the press through the executive authority.





Fourteenth: recommendations of the studyThe study recommends a number of things as follows:- Rapid release of all prisoners of the press and media- Stopping the fabrication of accusations for journalists and media- Stopping torture, enforced disappearances and forced confessions of the trumped-up charges- The application of domestic articles of the constitution and international charters and conventions, which stresses the need to provide full opportunity to get the information, transfer and circulate it and respect for the right to issue newspapers and mass media.- Providing safety and appropriate assistance to all the media, journalists and correspondents while performing their jobs.- Providing adequate health care in prisons and detention centers and to stop the starvation policy and also the deprivation of treatment.

APPENDIXES

Extension (1)Extension (1) detention for short periods- Shamsuddin Morteda reporter at ONA news agency and Mo'men Samir photographer at Vito were arrested on January 25 from Hadaik Al-Maadi Metro station by security agents and held for some time and then were released after the inspection of their computers and cameras.- Hamdi Bakri correspondent at Vito website, was detained by the police temporarily in January 25, 2015 during his coverage of the demonstrations on the anniversary of the revolution of January in Talaat Harb Square, He was verbally insulted by policemen after revealing his press identity. He was interrogated blindfolded, and was detained for some while inside the Central Security camp subjoining Tora prison before being released after two days of detention.





- Mohammed Mahrous editor at Vito website, was detained by security forces at the same day and released later.- Ala Al-kassaas, the photographer was detained by security forces while covering clashes in Abdel Moneim Riad Square on January 25. Security forces assaulted him and seized his equipment and belongings.- Ahmed Adel photographer at"Dot Masr" was detained Ali and his camera was seized on Jan. 25. He was released and recovered his camera from Talibia Police Department.- Mohammed Amin correspondent at Dot Masr, was detained by security forces in an armored police vehicle in Mataria Square on Jan. 25. His personal camera was inspected before being released. - Mahmoud Helmi Al-Qaoud, journalist at Al-Fath newspaper. He was arrested at dawn of January 25 from his residence in the village of Majd in Rahmaniyah in governorate of Beheira. He and his family had to see their house being inspected, the scattering of its contents and the seizure of their personal computers and mobile phones.- Ahmad Hilmi Al-Qaoud (Mahmoud's brother) a journalist who was released along with his brother two days after their detention.- Yassin Kspan, editor at Al-Bawaba News, was assaulted on February 8 by security agents of "Falcon" Security Company which is hold responsible for securing Cairo University gates. The attack happened during his covering of the incidents at the beginning of the second semister, and they handed him over to the Central Security, which captured him inside an armored police vehicle standing right in front of the door of Faculty of Information at Cairo University.- Hamdi Abdel Aziz, Mohammed Sayed, Mahmoud Gad and Hasan Al-Miniawy were temporarily detained by security forces responsible for securing Al-Azhar Sheikdom on March 7. That was during their coverage of a protest-stand that was held in front of the Sheikdom.- Mustafa Mahmoud, journalist at Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, was held by security and forwarded to the prosecution on charges of filming without a





permit in March 13, 2015, from inside one of the cafes in Bagour city of Menoufia.- Amr Sayed, photographer at Sada Al-Balad, was detained for some time by the Police on Friday, the 10th of April, during covering clashes between police and demonstrators in Al-Matareya area.- Kareem Sha'rawi, journalist at Al-Bayan newspaper, was detained on Sunday April 19 by security forces in charge of securing Cairo University students while covering the events organized by students. He was detained for some time in an armored police vehicle.- Kate Binion Tinker correspondent at British Broadcasting Corporation "BBC" was sexually harassed by a police officer at Cairo airport according to her testimony at her Twitter account in April 24, 2015. - Mohamed Sayed, journalist at Masr Al-Arabia website, was held in March 28, 2015 in Dokki traffic department for a few hours because of conducting a field investigation for his newspaper despite revealing his press identity.- In(May 23, 2015) "Ahmed Abu Al-Mahasen", journalist at Al-Tahrir newspaper said that police detained him while he was covering the funeral of the student who was studying at the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Islam Salah al-Din, "Abu Al-Mahasenadded that as he left the funeral which was in a masjid within the area of Ain Shams, he found a " microbus "with police officers inside who asked him to show his identity card and when he told them that he was a journalist, they had him detained inside the microbus where he found eight other people have been arrested in the belief that they are the deceased's fellow students. The journalist at Al-Tahrir newspaper proceeds saying that that just after an hour the officer ordered him to get out of the car saying, "I'm letting you go because you're a journalist and I don't want to see you here one more time".- "Mohammed Abu Zeid," photographer at Al-Tahrir newspaper, was arrested in May 5, 2015. They beat him and tore his clothes in the incident of editor "Sally Ghalib"...- Tuesday, June 30th, two of Al-Fajr newspaper correspondents, Maged Safwat and Mohamed Al-Najjar, were arrested by a police officer, while photographing





demonstrations at the area of Ain Shams in Cairo, where they were detained inside the police car until they were searched and then sent away after ill-treatment by the security agents of the police. - Maged Safwat, a correspondent for Al-Fajr newspaper, was arrested and then was let go, in Ain Shams area in Cairo, on June 30, Maged Safwat, coresspondent of Al-Fajr newspaper, was arrested along with the journalist Mohammed al-Najjar in the area of Ain Shams while covering yesterday's demonstrations on the second anniversary of "June 30". Maged Safwat, the correspondent at Al-Fajr newspaper said that: while I and my colleague, Mohammed al-Najjar ,fellow correspondent at Al-Fajr newspaper, were covering demonstrations and security presence within the area of Ain Shams, around 11 pm on Tuesday, we were surprised by one of the security officers heading towards us and asking about the reason for taking pictures around the area" the newspaper coresspondent proceeds saying " we told him that we are journalists then he took us to the police general who ordered us to get on board of the police vehicle where we stayed for about quarter to an hour, we were treated badly treated by the security agents of the police until the Deputy sheriff of Ain Shams Department attended and on telling him our identity as journalists and showing him our journalistic ID cards, he said to us, " pull out of the arresting car(Al-Box) and walk away."-In July 1, 2015 while covering the arrival of the bodies of the leaders of the group " Muslim Brotherhood " in October 6 City in Giza Governorate in front of the Zeinhom morgue, another six journalists were arrested and detained unjustly until their national ID card and press carnets were verified and then they were sent them away from the record. They are Mohammed Shaboury, a correspondent for the newspaper " Al-Masreya ," Ahmed Abdel Tawab, a correspondent for the newspaper " veto" , Mohammed Raei, a photographer for a number of news agencies, Mustafa al-Shami, a photographer at " Masrawy " news website, Mohammed Midian, a correspondent for the newspaper " Al-Bawaba News", Ahmed Abdel -Hadi , a correspondent for the newspaper " Al-youm Al-sabie", there was also the arrest of three other journalists, and releasing then, and then arresting them again. Mohammed Shaboury the reporter at Al-Masreya newspaper narrated to the Observatory "Journalists against torture ", the details of the incident where he was arrested by the





security forces in front of Zeinhom morgue while covering the arrival of the bodies of a number of members of the Brotherhood, he said that " during my covering for the moment of the arrival of the bodies of a number of the Muslim Brotherhood on the evening of Wednesday July 1 , I was surprised by a number of security forces arresting a number of citizens existing around the morgue area, and with me were two other journalists, " Hamdi Al-Zaeem, a reporter at "Al-Shaab" and Sharif Mohammed."He continued, "I was held near the morgue for an hour, press equipment were seized along with my press Carnet and I was searched. They investigated me through the National Security on the mobile phone, and after receiving inquiries I was released and got back my equipment and press carnet. I immediately left the place, I do not know what happened to my colleagues, but until the moment I left them they were still holding them, and I learned that there was another journalist who was arrested namely, Muhammad Adli, and I do not know what happened to him. "- Editors and journalist photographers detained for short periods of time:- Nourhanne Zayed, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, was held by security and forwarded to the prosecution on charges of filming without a license in March 13, 2015 from one of the cafes in Bagour city, Menoufia.- Nourhanne Imran, editor at Bawabet Al-Wafd, was detained on April 8, while conducting a press investigation in the Family Court in Helwan, she was escorted to the police department of Helwan and a record was edited against her on charges of filming without a permit, and she was evacuated by the prosecution several hours later.- Iman Ahmed, Al-Bawaba News correspondent, was locked with a number of her fellow workers in January 25, 2015 during the press coverage in Kafr Tohormos, Giza.- Wafaa Hassan, photographer at veto website, was arrested in January 18, 2015 while covering the accumulation of traffic on top of Ghamra Bridge, the photos taken by her mobile phone were erased and she was escorted to Al-Zaher police Department where she was released following some phone calls made by her superiors at work with the Ministry of Interior.





- Hager Hisham, from Masr Al-Arabia website, was held in March 28, 2015 in Dokki traffic department for a few hours because of conducting a field investigation to her newspaper despite the disclosure of her press identity.- "Sally Ghalib " editor at Al-Tahrir newspaper, In the (May 5, 2015), she narrates her arrest details and the way they forced her to wipe the video filming material on her camera in Imbaba, saying: " During my work on Monday, May 4, area of Imbaba, on receiving some information from a number of the area inhabitants admitting the assault of a police officer after breaking up a fight in Al-Gamei Al-Saleh in, Imbaba. The police officer attacked some shops, broke their show-casing windows and fired some gunshots in the air without apparent reason according to the words of the people. She added, "I headed immediately to the mentioned area, accompanied by my colleague, photographer Mohammed Abu Zaid to cover what is happening, and we recorded with a number of people affected by the incident. After finishing our work we rode a car, and we were surprised by the number of informants dressed in civilian clothes, stopping the car and forcing us to get out of it. When I asked one of them about his identity, he told me that he is Captain Haitham Sukkr Chief of Detectives of Al-Mounira Al-Gharbia police station. "She continued, "we were forcibly escorted to the police station, and there we were forced us to erase the photographic material from the camera, and they beat the photographer, which caused him bruises scattered all over his body and face wounds. His clothes were also torn up due the assault. We were threatened with fabricated charges if we refused to sign a memorandum of reconciliation between us and a security police agent who is alleged to be affected by the videos that we have captured, and we were forced to sign the memorandum of reconciliation and erasing the contents of the camera and then we were released after more than hour and a half of our detention."- In June 10, 2015: " Abeer Abdullah " the editor at Al-Dameer newspaper, was arrested while performing her job, and was released the next day after receiving inquiries from national security about her. Mohammed Saber, head of the governorates department at Al-Dameer newspaper, has confirmed that Abeer Abdullah correspondent of the newsaper in Sharqia was released at dawn of Wednesday, June 10th, from Zagazig police station, after being arrested on Tuesday afternoon while performing her job at Al-Ahrar hospital in Sharqia.





Saber added that Al-Ahrar hospital director summoned the security forces for the correspondent of Al-Dameer newspaper awake an argument that broke out between her and a hospital doctor who tried to prevent her from photographing and performing her work. She was escorted to Zagazig police department and presented to the evening prosecution. The President of the governorates department at Al-Dameer newspaper continued that, she was released later after receiving inquiries from national security out her, and the intervention of the Security Manager of Sharkia along with some of the security leaders, while a source from inside Al-Dameer newspaper confirmed that the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health will pay the correspondent a formal apology in the hospital inside with the presence of the Governor and Security Manager of Sharkia.Extension (2)Extension (2) arrest and release on the pending cases• Ahmed Mohamed Aboul Ela, working at IMS News Agency and a member of the electronic media syndicate, was arrested on January 16 from Al-Matareya on charges of taking pictures of police cars without a permit. He was taken to the Department of Al-Matareya police, and forwarded to the prosecution, which ordered him to be hold in temporary custody in the record number 382 for the year 2015. He was released on the first of March at pending further case investigation.• Ahmed Samih director of Radio Hurreyatena, was arrested from his workplace on April 4, and forwarded to the prosecution on charges of working without a license despite the fact that the radio administratively follows the human rights center which is run by him, and which has been already raided many times before because of its repeated criticism against the authority. He has been released later on bail of 5 thousand Egyptian pounds at pending further case investigation.• Sayed Foda, working for Al-Tahrir Al-Ekhbary websit, his house was stormed by the security forces in Qalioub Center, Qaliubiya and he was arrested on March 29. His personal computer devices were seized, and he was released after some extended investigations with him.





• Islam Salah, correspondent at Anadolu Agency who is originally from Aswan, was arrested in early March and was released later on bail of 1000 pounds, pending investigation in case No. 3328 demeanors, second department of Aswan. • Hussein Mahmoud Abdel-Halim... journalist at Al-Dostour newspaper, was arrested on April 11 for allegedly evading the implementation of previous sentences that were issued against him in criminal cases since 2004, 2009 and 2011. The truth is that he was arrested after his adoption of a press campaign against the actions of the Ministry of Interior through the newspaper in which he works. The interior ministry has already submitted a complaint against him to the public prosecutor to investigate his publications.• Reda Edward, Board Chairman of Al-Dostour newspaper, was detained for hours and questioned on April 20 on his newspaper's publication of news about the practices of the Ministry of Interior and the prosecution released him on bail. • Said Wahba, editor at Al-Dostour, was questioned on April 20 and released on five thousand pounds bail in the case of publishing news about the practices of the Interior Ministry.• In January 31, 2015, the arrest of Al-Hurreya Wa Al-Adala journalist" Ahmed Abu Zeid," who is a syndicated activist, and was a member of the movement, pro-reform journalists. He was taken from the street after leaving the journalists' syndicate, after being followed by security men and being taken to his house to be searched. Then he was arrested and forcibly disappeared before he appears later. He remained in temporary incarceration in Giza central jail, then was released later pending the case.• In January 31, 2015, reporter and a member of the electronic media syndicate "Tariq Mahrous" was arrested and forcibly disappeared for a day where he was subjected to torture, beatings and electroshocks. He was released later pending the case.•" Ahmed Qaoud " journalist at Al-Dostour newspaper, in the (May 3, 2015) Mohammed Qaoud, testified that security forces raided the house of his brother Ahmed, a journalist at Al-Dostour newspaper, in Beheira, dawn of May 3, 2015,





and arrested him, destroyed the contents of the house, through a workforce of 20 people they assaulted his brother with beating, verbal insults and theft of personal belongings to his family. In (May 4, 2015) Mohammed Qaoud said that the Rahmaniyah prosecution decided to release his brother Ahmed, pending the case. Qaoud confirmed also that the police charged his brother of joining crowds, demonstrating and sabotaging public facilities, and that one of the police officers testified to that despite the fact that his arrest was from inside his home, he also added that the public prosecutor decided to release him pending the case until receiving the National Security inquiries about him. He stressed that the investigation with his brother was in the absence of his lawyer which is against the law, stressing that yesterday's intervention by the journalists' syndicate was what helped to release him.• Arresting three of Al-Bayan newspaper, and the subsequent release on pending cases, as all of Ibrahim Arif " editor in chief of Al-Bayan newspaper, Sarah Alaa " editor at Al-Bayan, and " Najiba Mahjoub were arrested. As in May 20, 2015, the Security Investigation forces of Dakahlia arrested Sarah Alaa, journalist at Al-Bayan, to question her before the Public Prosecutor, Hisham Barakat in Cairo; charging her of publishing false news about the assassination of five judges by an armed group of people. The Attorney General ordered an investigation on the news, and hearing the words of those responsible for the publication, and they are:Journalist Sarah Alaa, Ibrahim Aref, editor-in-chief of the website, and Naguiba Mahjoub, Board Chairman of the website. The security forces have arrested the editor-in-chief of the website, Ibrahim Arif, on May 18, before the prosecution decided to release him on bail of 10 thousand pounds, after the intervention of the Journalists' Syndicate. The editor of Al-Bayan website said: "After the incident of the arrest warrant against Ibrahim Aref, editor-in-chief of the website, because of what went wrong with the news published about the" assassination of six prosecutors on the Cairo-Suez Desert Road, I learned that my name was mentioned in the investigations and already on the evening of Tuesday, May 19 , a police force from Nabarouh police department showed up and led me to the department based on an arrest warrant issued against me.The next day, on Wednesday morning, I went to the Office of the Attorney General in Cairo, accompanied by a police force, questioned by the Deputy





Attorney General, "she continued," the Deputy Attorney General charged me of publishing false news, disturbing public opinion and stirring panic, which I denied completely, as I am just a disk editor, news are being sent to me to be proofed and then uploaded to the electronic portal, and this is what happened as the information was sent to me and I uploaded it to the website. After the end of the investigation with me and with Najiba Mahjoub, chairman of the site, the public prosecutor ordered our release on bail 10 000 pounds for each of us". She added," Then we headed to the Nabarouh police department in Dakahlia to pay our bail on the same day past midnight. "- Journalist "Abdel- Rahman Abu Gheit," was arrested in the July 6, 2015 and released later. He was arrested simply because of disclosing his press identity in one of the traffic committees in October City, and he was released later pending a trumped-up case.- Arrest of, "Yasin Alsayed" member of the electronic media syndicate in front of Al-Ibramimia police department, Sharqia , before being released later.- As well as the arrest of female activists charged of the management or updating of webpages on social networking sites, there was also editors who have been arrested, their profession is editing and journalistic writing, they are: "Farida Ali Ahmed," 42-year-old, and "Samar Hassan Mahmoud al-Najjar," and they were charged of those saved elastic used when there are no real charges or evidential facts, The charges were "spying and joining a terrorist group founded at odds with the law and the Constitution intended to disable the provisions of the Constitution and the dissemination of false news." Although they were released later in July 2015, however, they came out on pending further fabricated case investigations.Extension (3)Extension (3) Press detainees during the study period who still behind prison bars until now (17)On March 21 security forces arrested, "Abdel-Rahman Abdel-Salam Yaqout" correspondent at Karmouz website in Alexandria, was arrested by Security forces during his coverage of the incident of a police station incineration in Alexandria in the record number 8558 to 2015. Abdul Rahman Ali was





presented to the prosecution of Dekheila on March 23, which ordered him to be incarcerated for 15 days on charges of incinerating the police station, and trying to overthrow the government, despite presenting his press carnet.The arrest of the manager of "Yaqeen News" network " Yahya Khalaf " on July14, which happened after the security forces stormed the headquarters of news network " Yaqeen " located downtown Cairo area, confiscated all of the hardware and equipment, arrested the director of the network, " Yahya Khalaf " and Ibrahim Abu Bakr " Network Editor " and others while the editor was released later and they retained the arrest of the network director and his imprisonment pending investigations… among the accusations drawn by the prosecution was the non-existence of a license to the news network, possession of editing devices without a license and some of the charges related to the works in addition to the charges of promoting the news against State and its institutions. It is noteworthy that this is the second time that the storming of the headquarters of the network happens, as the security services has already arrested all who were around the headquarters at the beginning of February of last year. Following that they were interrogated by Qasr al-Nil Prosecution where they were released on bails ranging between (5-10) Thousands Egyptian pounds.3 journalists were arrested in July 1, 2015 while covering the transfer of the bodies of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood to Zeinhom morgue: They are: "Mohammad Adeli, Hamdi Mukhtar and Sherif Ashraf". The prosecution accused them of joining a prohibited group, publishing false news and working for Al Jazeera satellite channel.Arrest of Al-Masreya reporter "Wagdi Khaled" on Friday morning, July 3, while doing his job within the area of Omar Makram Masjid. During the consolation ceremony of the late Hisham Barakat, where Qasr al-Nil partial prosecution decided to renew his detention pending investigation in case No. 4750 for the year 2015 administrative, Qasr al-Nil. The prosecution charged him of charges, including joining a group founded at odds with the law.- Photojournalist "Mohamed Abdel Moneim Imam" was arrested, has been accused of trumped-up charges which are; joining a prohibited group, demonstrating without a license and capturing videos for Al-Jazeera channel.





- "Helmy Qaoud" was arrestedfrom Al-Hrreya wa Al-Adala newspaper.- The arrest of "Electronic Media Syndicate member," Ayman al-Sisi "with no new information available till now."- Re-arrest of editor "Rasha Alsayed Abdo Jafar" from her re-trial hearing on trumped-up charges, where the appeal eased the sentence to a year, after it was previously sentenced to two years of imprisonment, a sentence which she was released after. So she was arrested again from the Court to complete the period of confinement.- In January 21, 2015, Hassan Kabbani, the journalist and member of the Journalists' Syndicate, was arrested and disappeared before showing up two days later with traces of torture and electrioshocks. He is still in custody so far in the Scorpion prison. He wasn't questioned formally, according to his lawyer, but investigations were merely "chats" about the current situation, and then he was detained pending the case of spying based on a telephone call conversation between him and a former minister, Dr. Mohamed Ali Bishr, while security authorities so far refuses to photocopy the case papers to inform lawyers.- On March 27, security forces arrested both of Ahmed Saleh and Mohammed Noarj correspondents for one of the satellite channels and members of the Electronic Media Syndicate in Damietta, during conducting an interview with the family of one of the detainees, they were tortured to admit incidents that never happened …- The arrest of the journalist and member of the Journalists' Syndicate, "Mohammad Batawi" from his home who was forcibly disappeared and showing up later.- Arresting journalist and member of the Journalists 'Syndicate, "Yasser Abu Ela" and hiding him forcibly only to show up later. Security forces arrested journalist "Yasser Abu Ela a member of the Journalists' Syndicate in Giza," from his home in "Badrashin Giza" and took him to an undisclosed location until he was identified to be at Al-Badrashin Police Department. It's noteworthy that colleague Yasser Abu Ela was an editor and supervisor over the news and governorates departments in a number of newspapers and websites; partisan





and private ones". His confinement was extended for15 days without attending to the headquarters of the prosecution. News about the fabrication of a number of accusations to him, including demonstration against the state, and attempted murder were also spread.- " Israa Al-Taweel", who was hijacked, forcibly hidden, and deprived of medical treatment, all that happened to her under the pretext of her freelance photographer job, a situation which will be clarified later while talking about enforced disappearance.- After hiding him for 35 days... photojournalist "Islam Gomaa" was presented to the military prosecutor in Cairo after he was kidnapped in front of his wife and children on last April 23 from his residence in Faisal neighborhood in Giza. He was forcibly hidden for a period of 35 days in which photojournalist Islam was physical and psychologically tortured in every way. "Islam" was presented to the military court in Cairo on Thursday, May 28th, 2015 without the knowledge of his private lawyer or his family... while his family confirmed him being held inside the appeal court Cairo in Cairo Security Directorate, lawyers and family weren't able to see him. "Islam" showed up recently in a video released by the Interior Ministry, where he admits committing crimes, showing signs of torture and a lengthy beard indicating the period of his disappearance.Extension (4)Extension (4) cases of deprivation of press coverage and physical assaults by the security forces (51 cases)1) On Saturday, February 21 the security forces in charge of securing Giza southern First Instance Court, dismissed all journalists and media representatives from within the halls where parliamentary candidates submitted their papers and that was based on the direct order of the President of the Court.2) Sarah Hashim, editor of Al-Fajr newspaper, was attacked by thugs paid by the police in the downtown area during the coverage of the anniversary of the events of January 25.3) On Tuesday, February 24, 2015, security forces prevented journalists and representatives of the media to take pictures of places of explosions that hit





Alexandria Governorate, which was within the surroundings of police departments of Al-Raml, Al-Montazah, Al-Edara Al-Taalimeya(Educationan Administration)in Tosson, and Fawzi Muaaz in Smūha, under the pretext of direct orders by the Minister Interior.4) Ahmed Rushdie photographer at Al-Tahrir website was assaulted, on February 27 by thugs loyal to the police and his work equipment got stolen while covering demonstrations within Al-Haram area.5) On March 1 security forces prevented journalists and the media, with the exception of the state television, from covering the tour of Dr. Ibrahim Mahlab Prime Minister inside Prince Muhammmed Ali's Palace Museum in Manial.6) On March 28, Veto website editor Amani Felfel, was attacked by the guards of Cairo Governor during her coverage of his tour in Marg.7) On April 4, security personnel in charge of securing Abdeen Court prevented a group of journalists and media representatives working for local and international news agencies, from entering the hall of the trial of members of Al-Shaaab's Alliance Party, in an initial trial session because of breaking the demonstrations law in Talaat Harb Square which resulted in the killing of activist Shaimaa Al-Sabbagh.8) On April 7, security forces in charge of securing Port Said Criminal Court, prevented the entry of journalists to cover the re-trial hearing of the accused in the murder of 72 people of Al-Ahly Ultras in the case known in the media as the "Port Said massacre". 9) In April 7, 2015 Brigadier Ezzat Salem, director of public relations in Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar Governorate, attacked journalist Amr Abed Al-Bawaba News' reporter along with a number of journalists, during their coverage of the visit of Minister of Mouments in Al-Kosair City.10) In April 8, 2015 Assistant Minister of Interior for the sector of south of upper-Egypt, attacked journalists and media representatives assigned to cover the match between Ismaili and Ahli that took place in the stadium, "El Gouna", and ordered their expulsion from the football pitch while they were trying to clarify that they are journalists and performing their work.





11) On April 12 a detective officer in the Security Directorate of Alexandria beat Mohammed Bassiouni Sawt al-Umma newspaper editor, while filming the incident of police officers assaulting another army officer within the surroundings of St. Mark Church in Alexandria. Mohamed clothes was stripped out of his right after capturing the first picture of the incident, in a trial from the officer to grab the mobile phone Mohamed used to shoot the incident.12) In April 14, 2015 Major General Magdy Abdel Aal, Deputy General of Directorate of General Investigation in Giza, ordered the expulsion of all reporters and photographers present in the place of explosion of the two mainline towers feeding the Media Production City and that was during their coverage of the events of the explosion of the twin towers feeding electricity to the city. 13) On April 15, security forces in charge of securing Suez Courts Compound prevented Abdullah Daif, Al Wafd newspaper reporter from covering the court hearing of the complaint against the court security attacking lawyers. Security forces confirmed that there is a decision from the Interior Ministry and the Suez director of security to prevent the entry of newspaper reporters inside the courts compound whether to cover the prosecution news or sessions.14) In April 16, 2015 security forces in charge of securing the Police Academy prevented journalists and media professionals from entering Gamal and Alaa Mubarak's trial session (the two sons of the former President of the Republic) and 7 other businessmen, officials and former members of the National Bank board of directors "in the case of manipulating the stock market",15) In Friday, April 17, the security personnel in charge of securing Zamalek Sporting Club assaulted journalists and media representatives during their coverage of the opening of the club by Prime Minister "Ibrahim Mahlab" after its renovation.16) (May 18, 2015) Ashraf Mohi, the journalist at the Revolutionary Union newspaper, confirmed that he was beaten at the hands of a security agent in Al-Bahr Al-Ahamr Governorate after an argument that happened between them. The journalist filed a memorandum to the Attorney General and awaits prosecution investigations. Ashraf Mohi confirmed that he was beaten at the hands of the security agent in Al-Bahr Al-Ahamr Governorate after he entered





into an argument with him, and that he filed a memorandum to the Attorney General and has been waiting for prosecution investigations for five days. Ashraf Mohi tells us the details of the assault incident with beating and insults by the security agent saying: "Since more than a week, I have been working on a news investigation on police violations against citizens, and while approaching my workplace on Thursday afternoon, May 14", he proceeds saying, "I was surprised by a security agent dressed in a civilian outfit and standing next to a motorcycle near my house who tried to quarrel with me for no reason, I said to him," I don't know you ", he said to me my name is" M. G " a security agent, so I told him I am Ashraf, a journalist. Then he insulted me verbally, then beat until a number of neighbors started to show." Mohi "contined saying; while the neighbors were trying to keep him away from me another one shoed up and started beating me on my back and insulting me. After that, I tried to contact the director of security, but he did not answer his phone, so I went directly to the Office of the Attorney General and filed a memorandum about what happened with me bearing number 255 for the year 2015, and waited for the evening prosecution and offered them the memorandum. I've been waiting now for five days for the prosecution to question the security agent."17) (4 June 2015) Izz al-Din Wahdan, journalist of Al-Watan who accused the police forces of the Department of Bulaq Dakrur of beating him up according to his testimony: the Investigation Director of the department promised him to fix the problem amicably after he was assaulted by some of security agents of the department because of a press investigation on mineral water. He confirmed that he went on Thursday, June 4 to Bulaq neighborhood to investigate the non-conformity of mineral water and that he recorded some videos then with some citizens on the subject. He added that he was surprised by a group of security agents along with a police officer riding inside a tuktuk, who beat him and accused him of working for the Al-Jazeera channel. So he showed them his press carnet with the name of Al-Watan newspaper on it, however, the officer demanded a permit from the Interior Ministry for taking pictures of the street. The journalist stressed that he didn't have a permit and that the press identity card issued by Al-Watan newspaper should be enough. Al-Watan journalist continued saying that the officer made him choose between two things the first was to take him down to the police station to report the incident, and the

E g y p t . e c r f @ g m a i l . c o m




second was to erase the camera, so he selected to erase the camera contents. He added that the Director of the Investigation Section promised to resolve the crisis amicably. (May 3, 2015) officials of the Council of Ministers prevented journalists to attend the meeting involving discussing the problems of the industrial sector that was in session inside the Federation of Industries today May 3, 2015 in the presence of Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, Minister of Industry and Trade, in spite of sending a formal invitation to journalists to attend the meeting.18) (May 5, 2015) a number of journalists accused Guards of Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, of preventing them from covering the opening of the industrial zone by Mahlab in New Damietta, and journalists said they were unable to complete the coverage of the visit. Although they talked to the prime minister's bodyguards and emphasized their need to complete their work tasks However, their request was rejected, and the reply came: "the Prime Minister wants no one with him in the industrial area."19) (May 6, 2015) the Cairo Criminal Court held at the Institute of Security Agents in Torah, prevented all representatives of the media from entering the courtroom to cover the proceedings of the trial of 16 defendants, including a number of leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood in Helwan, on the background of being accused of the violence that occurred in Martyrs Square in Helwan, in July 26 2013, where Mohamed Shahin, the President Judge of the Court, prevented all media from attending the hearing, according to some press sources.20) (May 7, 2015) the North Cairo Court Formation, held at the Institute of Security Agents of the police in Torah, headed by Judge Mohammed Taya, prevented media representatives from attending the proceedings of the trial of the accused of the possession of weapons and ammunition, in the light of being accused in the case of violent events in Road Al-Farag, which is known in the media as " Road Al-Farag events." This, coincides with the start of the first trial sessions of the case, where it was scheduled for the prosecution to read the referral orders addressed to the defendants in this case.21) (May 7, 2015), the Court of Cassation prevented journalists and all media from covering the hearing trial of former President Hosni Mubarak and the leaders of the Ministry of Interior in the case of the killing of demonstrators and





exporting gas to Israel, the cases which Mubarak and his two sons were judged to be innocent along with the former Minister of Petroleum (Sameh Fahmy), his Interior Minister(Habib Al-Adly) and six and his assistants, all of them were judged innocent in the case of assisting in intentional murder. 22) (May 10, 2015) the Disciplinary Board and Validation for the Supreme Judicial Council, prevented the representatives of the press and the media and lawyers to attend the hearing trial of the counselor " Zakaria Abdul Aziz ", the former Chief of Egyptian Judges Club, who was accused of breaking into the state security headquarters, during the events of January 25, 2011.23) (May 10, 2015) counselor Mustafa Hassan Abdullah, head of the Cairo Criminal Court located in the Police Academy, issued a decree banning journalists from attending court hearing of the central security officer accused of killing a member of Al-Shaab's Alliance Party Shaimaa Al-Sabbagh, during the celebration of the fourth anniversary of the Revolution of January.24) (May 10, 2015) Aya Hmrosh, editor at AL-Fajr newspaper, tells the coverage details of the incineration of the Ministry of Supply and Internal, saying: "During doing my job on Sunday afternoon yesterday, May 10, to cover the fire, which broke out inside one of the rooms at the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade, a number of the staff and the security of the Ministry who are responsible for securing the building prevented me from photography, and prevented present crowds of journalists also, arguing that prosecutors and criminal investigation were doing their job, and we asked by the staff to leave the floor that was on fire until the specialists finish their work. "25) (May 12, 2015) the security forces in Minya, prevented representatives of the media from entering the re-trial sessions of 463 defendants, in the violence and riots incidents during the resolution of Rabiaa sit-in and security allowed us to only take photos of the vicinity of the outside court.26) (May 13, 2015) security personnel in charge of securing Hurghada Maritime Port, this morning, Wednesday, prevented journalists and representatives of the media from entering the port to follow the training exercise set to combat oil pollution which is carried out by one of the oil companies in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and the Red Sea Ports Authority.27) ( May 14, 2015 ) security forces in charge of securing Museum of Islamic Art, prevented journalists and the media from covering the visit of Irina Bokova, Director of UNESCO, to the museum to participate in the stand, which coincides





with the launch of the international campaign to preserve the cultural property under the title " United for Heritage " .May 16, 2015 ) Director of Central Hospital Bella prevented the entry of journalists , photographers and the media correspondents of the satellite channels into the hospital, only after the approval of Dr. Lamees El Madawy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Kafr El-Sheikh, and that was after issuing an administrative decision that day on Friday, May 15th, 2015.29) (May 17, 2015) Personal security forces of the Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, on the morning of Saturday, prevented journalists from entering the hall, in which was held the press conference by the Cairo governorate, to explain what has been implemented and Alasamarat and Long live Egypt in Moqattam.30) (May 18, 2015) security forces in charge of securing Cairo Criminal Court, which was held to gather the fifth Compound, Sunday, prevented journalists from attending the second re-trial sessions of former Prime Minister, "Ahmed Nazif" on illegitimate profiting, that was by a decision from the court to prevent media coverage of the session.31) (May 19, 2015) the security forces in charge of the securing of the Supreme Court building, prevented photojournalists, cameras and media from attending the General Assembly of the Court of Cassation on Tuesday.32) (May 19, 2015) security forces of the Police Directorate of Gharbia prevented journalists and correspondents of satellite channels from accessing Cancer Hospital 57357 in Tanta during the visit of Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, for its opening and checking health care level in the hospital. 33) (May 20, 2015) security forces in charge of securing Misdemeanor Khanka Court, held at the Police Academy, on Wednesday, May 20th, prevented journalists and photographers from covering the re- trial of deputy warden of Masr El-Gadida police department, after the abolition of the rule of imprisonment of 10 years that was issued against him and 3 others, in the case known in the media as the" deportations vehicle of Abu Zaabal ".34) (May 24, 2015) security forces responsible for securing the area called Hannoville in Alexandria, prevented journalists from filming the opening of the club and expelled them outside.35) (May 26, 2015) Counselor Salah Rushdie, was prevented along with journalists inside the Cairo Criminal Court from filming the case known to the





media as « Al-Maadi Incidents», held at the Institute of Police Security Agents in Torrah.36) (May 31, 2015) security forces accompanying Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, prevented Assiut journalists, from covering the visit by Mahlab to the Governorate yesterday, May 31, for the opening of the electric-power station with a capacity of 1500 megawatts. He also checked a number of projects and facilities in the governorate, accompanied by eight ministers. The media Office of Assiut Governorate, had prepared yesterday evening a list of the names of syndicated and accredited journalists, and delivered it to those responsible for securing the visit of Prime Minister, after attempts to prevent the Governorate journalists from covering the visit, but the officer chose 8 reporters only, out of almost 30 journalist, and exclude the rest of the journalists.37) (2 June 2015) Israa Sharkawy, editor of Education Affairs at Rose Al-Youssef Gateway, accused the security of the Ministry of Education of preventing her from entering the ministry on May 31, on the background the website's criticism of the performance of the minister.38) (6 June 2015 ) the security forces of the Institute of Security Agents of Police in Torrah, today Saturday, June 6th, prevented photojournalists from attending the trial of national security officers accused of killing lawyer session at the Department of Matareya, as well as preventing them from attending the trial session of Mohammed al-Zawahiri. The court Council that looked in the case, ordered the prevention of the photojournalists from entering the courtroom, to prevent the filming of the defendants.39) (7 June 2015 ) Faraskour Misdemeanor Court, on Sunday, prevented journalists from filming the defendants in the first hearing of renewing the incarceration sentence of Major Ahmed Abdul Hadi, deputy warden of Faraskour center, the alleged to have assaulted Emad Fahmy, a cassation lawyer, using his shoes .40) (8 June 2015) the Economic Court, headed by Judge Ashraf Issa, prevented journalists from covering the trial sessions of businessman Ahmed Mustafa Ibrahim, known under the alias " Almstriah ", who was accused of the seizure of more than 53 million from the public funds allegedly employed in investment projects. Court ordered the prevention of the entry of journalists to cover the





proceedings of the session, while the presence of the defendent was excusable for security reasons.(9 June 2015) Security forces of the police Academy prevented the entry of non-syndicated journalists from covering the Port Said Criminal Court headed by Judge "Mohammed Saeed El-Sherbini, for a verdict at a hearing trial of the accused in the case, known in the media as the" Port Said massacre. "42) 29 June 2015: Security forces of Qasr al-Nil police station, prevented the journalists from covering the bomb blast incident in the area surrounding the police department in Garden City yesterday, June 29. Police department employees did not give the opportunity to photographers to take pictures of the process of dismantling one of the containers.43) 28 June 2015: Security forces prevented journalists from attending the court session of the heroine of "Sepp Eddie" video clip, at Agouza Misdemeanors Court, after entering her amid tight guard by security forces, and preventing photojournalists from taking pictures of the defendant.44) 24 June 2015: The security of Cairo South Court, prevented journalists and photographers from entering the media trial session of Riham Saiid to attend the opposition session made by her request, on the rule of sentencing her to a year of imprisonment, on charges of beating the assistant director, arguing that the judge is prevented them from entering. Some journalists confirmed that the judge had met them in the deliberation room, and they allowed them to enter and attend the hearing as well as take pictures of the trial, but the security prevented their entry.45) 16 June 2015: security forces prevented electronic journalists from covering the proceedings of the sentencing hearing of former President Mohamed Morsi, in the cases of spying and escaping from Wadi Natrun prison during the revolution of January.46) 15 June 2015: Security forces prevented journalists from covering the protest-stand organized by the workers of the national company of sleep-trains inside Masr railway station, which was to demand their overdue financial receivables since July 2013. Some journalists accused security forces of seizing their cameras and discharging them from the videos involved with workers protest-stand inside Masr railway station. Also escorting journalists to a railway official, who refused the coverage of the event, saying that it's an illegal stand and that a police record will be edited against everyone inside the great hall.





47) 15 June 2015: Council of Cairo Criminal Court in the Institute Security Agents of police, ordered the prevention of the presence of editors, reporters and photographers into the courtroom, amid dissatisfaction from journalists who were barred repeatedly and more than one time in the same month. In the events of the Martyrs' Square and Arab Ghneim cases.48) 14 June 2015: security forces in charge of securing the Institute of Security Agents of the Police in Torrah, prevented the entry of photojournalists inside the trial session of the defendants in the case of a "air defense massacre". 49) 11 June 2015 photojournalist Sameh Abu al-Hasan, who works for Al-Tahrir newspaper: accused the security forces of assaulting him while covering a football match between Balladiet Mahalla and the Ghazl of Mahalla in Petrosport Stadium according to his testimony, the photographer said " I went on the evening of Thursday, June 11, to perform my work to cover the football match between My team Ghazl Mahalla and Balladiet Mahalla, held on the Stadium Petrosport. The Security in charge asked me to ask the newspaper to send a fax stating my job as a journalist and assigning me to cover the game by the newspaper. " "I went out of the stadium, and when I tried to go back in the Security refused my entry, so I told them that I was inside the stadium just a while before, we got into a verbal argument, and they assaulted me with beatings and insults, and was told by one of the soldiers I won't let you in, especially you …take a picture of me if you want I'll keep standing anyway ". The reporter proceeds saying "when I tried to raise my camera, I was surprised by him hitting the camera lens with his stick, and a number of officers attended and threatened me with filing a police record against me under the pretext of attacking the security forces, during which I phone called one of the security leaders to intervene, but one of the officers pulled the phone out of my hand and beat hysterically, then he detained me in the security room of the stadium "and he proceeds " they seized my equipment and then I was able to communicate with one of the leaders of the Interior Ministry, who in turn intervened, and shortly afterwards one of the officers involved in the incident showed up and ordered my release and I left immediately after security refused to give me the permission to resume my work and shoot the game."50) June 9, 2015 : Security forces of the police Academy prevented the entry of non- union journalists from covering the Port Said Criminal Court headed by





Judge " Mohammed Saeed El-Sherbini , for a verdict at a hearing trial of the defendants in the case, known in the media as the" Port Said massacre "51) 8 June 2015: Economic Court, headed by Judge Ashraf Issa, prevented journalists from covering the trial sessions of businessman Ahmed Mustafa Ibrahim, alias "Almstriah ", accused of the seizure of more than 53 million from the people funds allegedly employed in investment projects. The court ordered to prevent the entry of journalists to cover the proceedings of the session while the presence of the defendant was excusable for security reasons.


الصحافة والاعلام en

Art & Photos