Free Speech Hangs in the Balance in Egypt

Islam Afifi, editor in chief of Al Dostour, released.

Dear readers

I am sure many of you have been following the recent uproar regarding the detention of journalists who have been critical of Mohammed Morsi and the Freedom and Justice Party.

The United States has issued a statement that they are "very concerned" (strong words in diplomatic speak) about the state of media freedom in Egypt. The Egyptian government recently detained Al Dostour's Editor, Islam Afifi, for spreading false news and spreading disorder. Tawfiq Okasha, host of a TV talk show, will go on trial on September 1 for being critical of Mohammed Morsy. His television channel has been stopped from broadcasting. Further, Khaled Hanafy, managing editor of the Al Fajr newspaper was summoned for questioning on charges of defaming the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood.

After withering internal and international criticism, in a quick turnaround,  Afifi was released from custody today. Morsy also passed a law (note that there is STILL no parliament in Egypt) disallowing custodial detention for those arrested on publishing related offenses.

I have been concerned about the state of media freedom in Egypt for some time. Although it is promising that Morsy has released Afifi, it is not enough. More safeguards for a free press are needed.

Here is an article I wrote on this exact topic in March 2011.  Although SCAF is no longer in power, these issues remain pressing.

Protecting Freedom of Information in Egypt

Here are some more related articles.

US concerned about media freedom in Egypt

Under New Leadership, Media Face Old Oppressive Policies

~WMB

Implement Better Development Regimes in the Arab World (Guest Blogger)

Views contributed by my brilliant colleague and social geographer, David Rutherford, and endorsed by me! Right on, Brother! WMB

Sixty percent of the people across the Arab world are under 30 years of age, and they have terrible prospects for the future, largely as a result of the autocratic regimes that have failed to concern themselves adequately with improving conditions in their countries. I just heard that one in ten people in Libya are affiliated with the secret police, working to maintain the status quo which has had enough oil money to marginally improve the lives of the people of the country while lining their own pockets and ruthlessly suppress any dissent.

As flawed as democracy is in the U.S. and the West-- and I believe it is deeply flawed and that we need to make significant improvements-- the principles of free speech, liberty, democracy, and others that this country and the West developed over the last 250 years or so are worth promoting globally. Of course, those principles are not going to look the same everywhere, and we must be more sensitive and careful than we have been in many cases in the past, but nevertheless, the West seems justified to me in working to advance those principles.