Five Journalists to be Prosecuted for Gag Order

Two editors and three reporters will be prosecuted for violating a gag order the trial of Egyptian construction mogul Hisham Talaat Moustafa, the AP reported.

"Last week, the judge in the murder case issued strict guidelines limiting reporting on the trial to vague procedural information and the verdict," the AP said.

"Magdi el-Galad, editor of the independent Al-Masri al-Youm, Abbas el-Tarabili, editor of opposition Al-Wafd and three of their reporters will go on trial Dec. 4 for publishing the testimony of a witness," the AP said.

Although the Egyptian government has indiscriminately prosecuted journalists for criticism against the state, this is one of the few examples in which the government followed international standards press restrictions during legal proceedings.

Judges abroad typically issue gag orders in prominent cases to ensure the accused has the right to a fair trial and to avoid a so-called "trial by public."

This example should be viewed with caution, however, as the Egyptian government originally tried to prevent the press from covering the event because of Talaat Moustafa's prominence and MP status. This only changed when UAE media began reporting about the death of the singer who Talaat Moustafa is accused of murdering.

This is the fourth time in the last three months that the press has been ordered not to print information.

"The prosecutor had issued an order banning publication of information during the investigations in the Susan Tamim's case last August, then a further decision was taken to ban publication on a bribery lawsuit against an Egyptian businessman close to the ruling circle last September, the third was on the abduction of foreign tourists in southern Egypt in the same month, and finally the fourth resolution also concerned the Susan Tamim's case," said the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) in a statement.

The journalists face up to a year in prison if they are found guilty.

Furthermore, it will be important to see the press reaction to the verdict and if journalists have the right to publish details about the trial after it is completed.

ANHRI made an optimistic statement about freedom of the press, albeit from cynicism of the activities of the Egyptian government.

"While things in Egypt seem to be moving backward, we are still confident that the corruption of certain circles in Egypt will never stop the press fulfilling its role, and thus we must support those journalists."