Monday, July 10, 2006

The inevitable crackdown

The world’s largest Muslim country allowed a little freedom of press. Now they want it back. From the Christian Science Monitor: “Egyptian press fear rollback of reforms

In recent years Egypt's press has been allowed more room. A feisty independent newspaper began publishing last year and politically partisan weekly papers have launched one broadside after another against President Hosni Mubarak.

But Egyptian journalists allege a government backlash is under way and they're pushing back. Sunday, at least 24 daily and weekly papers withheld publication, and a rowdy demonstration of about 500 journalists and supporters was held at the parliament building in downtown Cairo, with one banner sarcastically declaring "Viva corruption. Down with freedom of the press."
One step forward, three steps back.

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