Egypt removes media mention from terrorism law
The Egyptian parliament has reversed its decision to specifically include media outlets in its anti-terrorism law, but rights advocates say the action is mainly window dressing and won't help protect journalists.
CAIRO — In a move described by lawyers and free speech advocates as a "charade," the Egyptian parliament has removed media platforms from the government’s definition of terrorist parties.
In a U-turn, parliament this month decided to exclude language it had just weeks ago written into a proposed amendment to the controversial 2015 anti-terrorism law.
The language initially expanded the definition of terrorism acts to include satellite TV channels, radio stations and social media accounts, which raised concerns about it being another means of suppressing the constitutional rights of Egyptian citizens. It also raised concerns that the language might further darken Egypt's already-dreary human rights reputation.
So lawmakers, led by parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal and Human Rights Committee chairman Alaa Abed, agreed to discard those entities from the amendments. Bahaa Eddin Abu Shoka, head of parliament’s Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee, also approved the removal.
