On World Press Freedom Day…we demand the release of journalists

#Press Release
On World Press Freedom Day...we demand the release of journalists

World Press Day is a day celebrated annually on the 3rd of May. This day aims to highlight the role of journalism in promoting freedom of expression, democracy and human rights around the world.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental driver for all other human rights. It contributes to promoting individual freedom and enabling societies and individuals to achieve equality, justice and development.

Journalists and media professionals are considered the pillars of journalism and freedom of expression. They work to disseminate information, news and opinions in societies, and strive to provide accurate and objective facts to the public. Through these efforts, journalists and media professionals can play a crucial role in achieving justice and democracy, and promoting individual freedom and human rights.

In light of the challenges facing freedom of expression in some places, especially in the countries of the Middle East, including Egypt, the international community must work seriously to protect freedom of expression. This necessitates ensuring the creation of a safe and conducive environment for journalists and media professionals to perform their work freely and safely. On the occasion of World Press Day, we must all stress the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in preserving democracy and human rights around the world.
This year, the International Day comes with 46 journalists and media figures are in Egyptian prisons. They were arrested for no reason or justification, except for writing articles in newspapers or tweets through the media, in which they expressed their refusal to the violations of law.

The Egyptian regime further went too far, by putting a number of Journalists and media professionals on terrorist lists, the latest of which was issued on April 12, 2023, and included 33 media figures. Those figures include Moataz Matar, Mohamad Nasser, Hamza Zawbaa, Osama Gawish, Hosam Al-Ghamry, Youssef Hussein, Samehi Mostafa, Mosaad Al-Barbari, Amr Al-Qazzaz, Fayrouz Halim, Nader Fattouh, Halah Samir, Emad Behairy, Doaa Hasan and Ashraf Al-Balqini.

Therefore, the international community must strive hard to achieve the following demands

1- The release of all journalists and media professionals arrested for doing their job, "journalism is not a crime".
2- Lifting restrictions placed on blocked news websites, which included more than 48 news websites
3- Moving towards applying the international standards for freedom of the press and journalists. This requires stopping the restrictions placed on journalists in conducting their work, and holding the violations against them when trying to implement the law or strive to make the freedom of opinion, thought and expression respected.

#El_Shehab_for_Human_Rights