B4-0863, 0891 and 0894/95

Resolution on threats to freedom of the press in Egypt

The European Parliament,

A.concerned by the adoption on 27 May 1995 by the Egyptian Parliament of a law which restricts severely the freedom of the domestic press and of foreign journalists based in Egypt,

B.stressing that the new press law could drastically curb democratic debate on the legislative elections due to take place at the end of the year, thus denying all participants their right to information,

C.pointing out that, any attempt to stifle criticism of the Government will undermine the authority of the results of these elections,

D.whereas the General Assembly of the Federation of Egyptian Journalists has called a general strike for 24 June 1995 to protest forcefully against the approval of the press law,

E.aware that the Egyptian Government is confronted with a grave threat from fanatical religious terrorism which has cost over 750 lives since the beginning of 1992, but greatly concerned by the increasing reports of human rights abuses by Egyptian security forces, notably by the State Security Investigation (SSI), such as arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention, torture of suspects during interrogation and 'hostage-taking' of relatives of fugitives for the purpose of forcing them to give themselves up, and fearing such abuses will grow worse if censorship is imposed,

F.believing that the refusal to allow open criticism of corruption and other abuses of power contribute greatly to the strength of political and religious fanaticism,

1.Is convinced that freedom of speech is one of the fundamental human rights and that true democracy is sustained by, among other things, the existence of genuine freedom of the press and opinion;

2.Fears that this new press law is merely an opportunity to impose legal censorship on the activities of Egyptian journalists;

3.Shares the concerns of the Federation of Journalists and expresses its support for a free and independent Egyptian press;

4.Calls on the Egyptian Government and Parliament to ensure that the media are free to expose any abuses of authority and to criticize the policies of the Government;

5.Believes that acts of murder and attempted murder committed by armed opposition groups do not give the state a licence to abandon the human rights standards that it is pledged to uphold under Egyptian and international law;

6.Calls on the Council and the Commission, bearing in mind the crucial importance of Egypt in both the peace process and in developing democracy in the Middle East, to express support for freedom of the media in Egypt and their anxiety about the continuing human rights violations there;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the government and parliament of Egypt.