Egypt
Al-Tahrir newspaper shut down for its website being blocked
On 23 June, Al-Tahrir newspaper’s board of directors issued a decision to shut down the newspaper for failing to meet its obligations to employees two months from now, after blocking its website for more than a month without receiving any notification or declaring the party that stands behind the ban.
A new lawsuit to challenge the “Media Regulatory Council” bylaws
On 22 June, lawyers Amr Abdel Salam and Hamido El-Prince filed a lawsuit case (No. 51027 for the year 73 urgent) before the head of the Court of Administrative Justice against the head of the Supreme Media Regulatory Council (SMRC). The lawsuit challenges the SMRC’s decision (No. 16 of 2019) regarding the list of sanctions/regulations and measures that may be applied against entities governed by Law No. 180 of 2018 Regulating the Press, Media and the Supreme Council.
“Mido” interrogated by SMRC
The Supreme Media Regulatory Council (SMRC) commenced an investigation with Ahmed Hossam “Mido”, coach of Masr El Makasa sporting team and former member of the national Egyptian team and Al-Zamalek club, for allegedly spreading “statements that deemed offensive to the Egyptian sports fans and stirring up discord in the sports community” via one of the social networking website “Facebook” pages. Mido denied he has any relation whatsoever with the page asserting that he has no accounts or pages on Facebook.
A program director at “Maspero” interrogated for allegedly inciting protests
Boulaq Abul-Ela Prosecution decided, on 19 June, to dismiss a program director at Egypt’s state TV Sector after hearing her testimonies in the accusations of “inciting a number of employees at the National Information Authority to stage a sit-in in protest against the non-payment of bonuses for four years”. The Prosecution also plans to interrogate four maintenance and broadcasting technicians at the sector.
Anadolu Agency (AA) and TRT Arabi websites blocked
The Egyptian authorities blocked, on 19 June, the websites of Turkey’s Anadolu Agency (AA) and TRT Arabi across Egypt, in response to their coverage of the death of the late President Mohamed Morsi.
Algeria
Communications ministry bans access to social media websites
Algeria’s communications ministry have blocked access to social networking websites “Facebook”, “Twitter”, “Instagram”, “Youtube” and “WhatsApp” since the 16th of June, in conjunction with the start of the baccalaureate exams, a move Algerian authorities say is aimed at preventing cheating at exams using social media websites.
A protest rally in solidarity with the blocked websites
A group of young people organized, on 17 June, a protest in Algiers to show solidarity with the blocked news websites, including TSA website. Protesters held a minute of silence in which they muzzled their mouths with their hands to demonstrate their objection to the ban.
Jordan
Lawyer Firas Al-Rousan released
On 20 June, the Jordanian security services set free lawyer Firas Al-Rousan who was detained on “lengthening tongue” charge.
Al-Rousan was arrested by the security bodies on the 22nd of last May while he was visiting two of his clients detained over opinion-related case to obtain power of attorney from them in order to proceed with the pleadings’ legal proceedings in courts.
Tunisia
Journalists Afaf al- Wadrani and Naima Khalifeh attacked by the security
Journalists Afaf al-Wadrini, correspondent for “Tunis Arrakmia” newspaper at Medenine, Naima Khalifeh, correspondent of Sabra FM radio in the same city, were subjected to verbal attacks and repeated attempts to prevent them from performing their work by security personnel on 20 June, while they were covering a protest organized by a number of asylum-seekers from different African nationalities.
Tunisian Human Rights League condemns the attack on journalist Yassin al-Ramadani
The Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LTDH) has condemned the attack on journalist Yassin al-Ramadani against the backdrop of publishing a news report on the official page of Sabra FM Radio where he works in, stating that a patrol affiliated with the National Guard has been attacked by a misguided man.
Sudan
Sudanese Journalists’ Network warns against the suspension of journalists
On June 17, the Sudanese Journalists’ Network (SNJ) denounced the systematic mass suspension of national competencies at the official media institutions, which opens the door for elements aiming at fabricating facts and misleading public opinion using false information to return back to be appointed in media institutions.
SNJ referred to the dismissal of “Al-Siyha” newspaper’s editor after criticizing the Rapid Support Forces in one of TV shows, as well as the summoning of journalist Rashid Oshi, correspondent at “Al- Tayar” newspaper in Kosti, and the detention of journalist Ammar Mohammed Adam by the Rapid Support militia.
Kuwait
Artist Khaled Al Mulla and Ahmad Al Fadhli released
Sudan’s media prosecution ordered, on 17 June, the release of singer Khalid Al Mulla and the general manager of “ATV” TV channel Ahmad Al Fadhli, with a personal guarantee in the case filed by the Ministry of Information and a judge, accusing the two men of insulting the judiciary against the backdrop of a song performed by Al Mulla and aired by ATV addressing the issue of fraud in the society.
