Free Expression Under Threat, Fears for Safety of Journalists

PEN International is alarmed to hear of the escalation in violence and threats to free expression occuring in Egypt following the ousting of former President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, 2013. Since then, over 80 people have lost their lives in violent clashes, including at least 51 supporters of the ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, who were killed on July 8 outside the Cairo headquarters of the elite Republican Guard. There are reports that security personnel used excessive force against these protesters. The violent crackdown follows a wave of arrests of pro-Morsi supporters, including journalists, and arbitrary closures of media centers. PEN calls on Egypt’s interim government to release anyone held solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression. PEN also urges the interim government to carry out independent investigations into all reports of human rights violations by security forces against protesters in recent days.

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• Calling on the Egyptian authorities to do all within their power to protect journalists and others reporting on the current turbulent events in Egypt;
• Reminding the authorities of their obligations to protect freedom of expression as laid out by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Egypt is a state party;
• Urging them to ensure that Article 7 of the Constitutional Declaration, which provides for limitations on freedom of expression through speech, writing, pictures, or other means “according to the law,” is not used to impose restrictions that exceed those that may be imposed under international law.

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