Egypt newspapers protest clampdown

More than 20 independent and opposition newspapers strike over press freedom.

Hosni Mubarak , president of Egypt — Mubarak has been accused of clamping down on media freedoms for many years [EPA]

Another opposition newspaper editor and two journalists were also sentenced recently to two years in prison for allegedly publishing false news about the country’s judiciary.

Editors jailed

In September, an Egyptian court sentenced four newspaper editors to one year in prison for defaming President Hosni Mubarak and his son, drawing condemnation from human rights groups.

Last month, the White House said it was concerned about what it called setbacks on press freedom and civil society in Egypt.

The Egyptian government dismissed the criticism as unacceptable interference in internal affairs.

Ahmed Enany, board member of the Egyptian Press Syndicate, said: “We are calling on the government to implement the promise of president Mubarak to end the imprisonment of journalists.

“The government should not scare journalists and should let them work in a free environment,” he said.

Source: News Agencies