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Our Reports
The Internet In the Arab World
A New Space of Repression?
No Rules, No Limits
United Arab Emirates:
Freedom of expression is missing despite a decision banning imprisonment for press crimes
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As a support for Egyptian and Arab journalists and lawyers,
Arabic Network releases a new book about libel and defamation crimes and their impact on the freedom of opinion and expression
Cairo, December 23, 2007
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information has published a new book titled “Libel and defamation, and the freedom of opinion and expression”. The book is a legal one tackling the two crimes of libel and defamation which are always used to suppress journalists and writers in Egypt and the whole Arab world. The book refutes these crimes and shows the legal ways of disproving them, and differentiates between them and the rights of criticism and information handling.
The book, compiled by lawyer Hamdy Al Asuity, is the first issue of the legal books and studies which will be published by the Arabic Network in its category titled “Legal writings about freedom of opinion and expression”. This category tackles the legal articles used in condemning and terrifying intellectual journalists, writers or artists. Such articles pave the way to those who work against the freedom of expression and journalism to create an atmosphere of fear among writers and journalists.
The book includes the definition of the crimes of libel and defamation and the legal way to disprove them. Also, it includes a section dealing with the use of internet and mobile phones and their legal liability as evidences in such crimes. In addition to this, the book includes a complete section containing several final sentences issued by the Egyptian supreme court which rooted deeply and ratified the freedom of expression and the freedom of political criticism. Such sentences can act as pillars upon which one can rely while differentiating between the permitted criticism and defamation and libel.
The author allocated a good section in his book where he mentioned the circumstances of several cases regarding freedom of expression. He quoted some philosophers and poets who used to defend freedom of journalism and expression and the right of criticism. Among the sayings quoted by the author comes the following one by the late Egyptian lyricist Bayram El Tonsi who said, “Criticism is an extension of prophecy,… if were not critics, people would have been wiped out, wrong would have been victorious upon right, and the evil-minded would have overwhelmed the good people. The more faint the critic voice, the more loud the charlatan voice”.
The book is 172 pages. Interested journalists and lawyers can obtain printed copies from the headquarters of the Arab Human Rights Information Network.
About the author:
Hamdy Al Asuity, a lawyer before the court of cassation, a legal expert specialized in advocating
freedom of opinion and expression. He took part in advocating many journalists like Mr. Ahmad El Nagar, an ex-member of journalists syndicate board, Dr. Nawal El Sadawi, and poets Helmy Salim and Ahmad El Shahawi. Also, he participated in the case of Sarando village farmers and other cases.
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