The Journalists' Syndicate is convening with the editors-in-chief from various newspapers, as well as journalists, Thursday evening to discuss the controversial anti-terrorism law that was recently proposed by the government and has gained criticism from the syndicate.
Syndicate chief Yehia Qallash told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the meeting will tackle articles of the bill which stipulate a minimum jail term of two years for reporters who provide information at odds with official statements concerning counter-terrorism operations.
“Journalists have played an important role in combating terrorism,” the syndicate’s general secretary, Gamal Abdel Rahim, said. “Colleagues have defied threats and performed their duties side by side with security forces. The syndicate supports the existence of an anti-terrorism law, but without the five articles that work against press freedoms,” he added.
The syndicate will most likely propose its own amendments to the bill.
Khaled al-Balshy, the syndicate’s freedoms rapporteur, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the syndicate will offer amendments which include the removal of clauses that empower authorities to detain journalists.
The journalists' move comes as news reports quoted government sources saying it was backtracking on the imprisonment penalty and contenting with a LE30,000-LE50,000 fine.
The government introduced the draft law amid escalating encounters between Egypt’s military and militants in North Sinai who killed dozens of troops last week, shortly after the assassination of late general prosecutor Hesham Barakat in June.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
