Egypt's ruling Supreme Military Affairs Council (SCAF) have reactivated the Emergency Law prompting calls for a million man march tomorrow (Friday) to oppose the reviled law that former president Mubarak had kept in place throughout his more than two decades of power. Apparently they're most interested in putting the articles regarding spreading misinformation, arms possession and interfering with traffic back into effect (they were suspended on Jan. 25 as an attempt - albeit unsuccessful - to appease protesters).
The reactivation comes on the heels of violent protests at the Israeli embassy in downtown Cairo. One activist was quoted as saying that the military has not only targeted street activism, but that it "is going after anyone who criticizes their actions. It is like Mubarak is still in power." Just days before, on Sunday, the offices of Al Jazeera Live Egypt (Mubasher Misr) were raided under the pretenses that it did not have the proper license to operate.
Unfortunately this latest crackdown on the media is the latest in a string of violations against free expression. Authorities raided the station, confiscating its transmission equipment and detaining an engineer, even though the channel's lawyer said the station submitted the required paperwork and was given permission months ago to continue broadcasting. The station has offered 24-hour, live news coverage of Egypt since it started on March 1 (and became the first privately-owned 24-hour news channel), something I'm sure Egypt's military rulers don't appreciate since it sure they would prefer to rule without the inconvenience of transparency and accountability, especially with elections on the horizon.
Of course, Egypt'r rulers have never been huge fans of the Qatari channel (neither are most other Arab rulers!). According to the independent Al-Masry Al-Youm, the Mubarak "regime had retaliated by detaining the channel’s reporters, barring them from covering crucial events or confiscating their tapes. The channel’s editorial content had also contributed to worsening Egyptian-Qatari relations." The SCAF has arrested bloggers and activists and put them on trial before military tribunals, rather than civilian courts, much like its predecessor.
Several political parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, have objected to holding the parliamentary elections, scheduled for November, while the Emergency Law is in effect. Revolutions are hard, and activists have promised once again to mobilize massive street protests in Tahrir. Will the SCAF listen? And will it let Al Jazeera's other channels cover it?
The reactivation comes on the heels of violent protests at the Israeli embassy in downtown Cairo. One activist was quoted as saying that the military has not only targeted street activism, but that it "is going after anyone who criticizes their actions. It is like Mubarak is still in power." Just days before, on Sunday, the offices of Al Jazeera Live Egypt (Mubasher Misr) were raided under the pretenses that it did not have the proper license to operate.
Unfortunately this latest crackdown on the media is the latest in a string of violations against free expression. Authorities raided the station, confiscating its transmission equipment and detaining an engineer, even though the channel's lawyer said the station submitted the required paperwork and was given permission months ago to continue broadcasting. The station has offered 24-hour, live news coverage of Egypt since it started on March 1 (and became the first privately-owned 24-hour news channel), something I'm sure Egypt's military rulers don't appreciate since it sure they would prefer to rule without the inconvenience of transparency and accountability, especially with elections on the horizon.
Of course, Egypt'r rulers have never been huge fans of the Qatari channel (neither are most other Arab rulers!). According to the independent Al-Masry Al-Youm, the Mubarak "regime had retaliated by detaining the channel’s reporters, barring them from covering crucial events or confiscating their tapes. The channel’s editorial content had also contributed to worsening Egyptian-Qatari relations." The SCAF has arrested bloggers and activists and put them on trial before military tribunals, rather than civilian courts, much like its predecessor.
Several political parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, have objected to holding the parliamentary elections, scheduled for November, while the Emergency Law is in effect. Revolutions are hard, and activists have promised once again to mobilize massive street protests in Tahrir. Will the SCAF listen? And will it let Al Jazeera's other channels cover it?
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