Cairo September 30, 2012

ANHRI condemns the decision of the “Head of the specialized channels of the Radio and Television Union” of referring the team of the TV program “Nahark Saeed”, televised on “Nile Life” channel, to investigation due to a guest who criticized the Freedom and Justice Party (the political arm of the Muslims brotherhood group) and the party’s election program which is called El-Nahdah”.

On Tuesday September 18, 2012 the TV program hosted at the phase of reading the daily news and comments, Mr. Emad El-Saber, the Managing Editor of El-Karama newspaper, strongly criticized the current governments policies and “Nahadah Project”, which is the media name for the election program of Freedom and Justice Party.

After the show, the team, which is formed from the Anchor Sarah Hanafy, editor Tagreed El-Dosky and the Director Rimon Foud, were surprised that the follow-up report contained several notes related to this phase as the host criticized the Muslim Brotherhood Group which was understood as a criticizing to the President. They did not have the chance to look directly into it but the manager of the channel told them about some of it.

The team was requested to submit a written response related to these notes in order to declare its circumstances. The team already have done that, but on Sunday night September 23 they were surprised to be called to meet the Minister of Information counselor for legal affairs on the following Thursday.

Despite the several assures of their heads in the channel and the sector of the specialized channel as well as the counselor of the legal affairs who they have met on Thursday morning September 27, that there are no intentions to refer them to an official investigation but they were surprised after the meeting directly that they are called for investigation.

ANHRI said that “the refer of the three media-staff to investigation due to a guest criticizing to the Muslims Brotherhood Group deemed to be a serious indicator. In particularly, if it was viewed in light of the accelerated harassing to media freedoms and freedom of expressions in Egypt. In the time that we are expecting the second republic following the revolution to take serious steps to guarantee the freedoms and to protect it against the uprising calls of Hizaba by the Sheiks and citizens who were incited against the opinion makers, media-staff and creators. In addition to some of who are looking to be famous”. But we are surprised when the officials of the state join this campaign to serve the political and partial narrow interests”.

ANHRI asserted on that “the exaggerated escalation against the team of the TV program is a message to all the responsible in the various national TVs, which says do not criticize the policies of the government and the ruling party, they are a red lines that should not be crossed. It reminds us of the siege imposed by the former regime on the national media, which destroy the hopes of fixing the media of the country which is owned by the people and will be as always the voice of the ruling regime, that can’t listen but to its dictation or satisfactions”.

ANHRI calls the minister of information to stop referring the team to the investigation and called the authorities to respect the international treaties and agreements which were signed by Egypt. Such agreements forces Egypt to respect media freedoms, media-staff and should not harass or terrorize them through the arbitrary procedures.

ANHRI repeats its calls to Egyptian authorities (Judicial or Executive) to address the uprising assaults against the freedom of expression and opinion. The authorities should also stop playing the collusive, inciter and actor roles related to these violations which threatens the establishing of a new country that respects the rights and freedoms of its citizens and include it by the necessity protection.