If the law is approved, journalists who publish data that contradicts official statements on death tolls in jihadist attacks will face jail.The new anti-terrorism law was partly prompted by journalistic reports on attacks against the army by ISIL loyalists on Wednesday, according to Egyptian Justice Minister Ahmed el-Zend in an interview with AFP news agency. Figures provided by security officials had suggested that the death toll could be as high as 70, while military spokesman Mohamed Samir later put the figure at 21 claiming that foreign press reports were not trustworthy.
If passed, journalists might find themselves behind bars for a minimum of two years if they report false information on terrorist attacks.
Gamal Eid, the executive director of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), a Cairo-based NGO, condemned the proposal, The Guardian reported.
If passed, journalists might find themselves behind bars for a minimum of two years if they report false information on terrorist attacks.
Gamal Eid, the executive director of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), a Cairo-based NGO, condemned the proposal, The Guardian reported.
"We are faced with an article that pushes the media towards Goebbels' media — the media of one opinion and one narrative," he said. "It is against the freedom of press, especially press that is critical and professional."
The country's Journalists Syndicate on Sunday described the new provision as "dangerous", whereas Mr Zend pleaded on Saturday to see the new law in a different light. "I hope no one interprets this as a restriction on media freedoms," he told AFP. "It's just about numbers."
A prison census CPJ conducted on June 1, 2015, found that Egyptian authorities were holding at least 18 journalists in jail in relation for their reporting, the highest in the country since CPJ began recording data on imprisoned journalists in 1990.
The country's Journalists Syndicate on Sunday described the new provision as "dangerous", whereas Mr Zend pleaded on Saturday to see the new law in a different light. "I hope no one interprets this as a restriction on media freedoms," he told AFP. "It's just about numbers."
A prison census CPJ conducted on June 1, 2015, found that Egyptian authorities were holding at least 18 journalists in jail in relation for their reporting, the highest in the country since CPJ began recording data on imprisoned journalists in 1990.
