Egypt and Defamation. According to Committee to protect Journalist, “In March, a court in the capital, Cairo, sentenced Adel Hammouda and Essay Fah my, both of the independent weekly Sat al-Umma, to six months in prison each for defaming prominent Egyptian businessman Na guib Sawiris. The case stemmed from an article in which they had accused Sawiris of financial misconduct. Although the journalists were never jailed, the ruling may have fostered even more self-censorship among journalists trying to document alleged corruption by officials and businessmen close to the state.” Many restrictions are drawn when in comes to publishing or criticizing the president or his family members, businessmen and public officials. Although officials and public figures are to tolerate criticism however abusive it is as part of having authority in a free system. The most infamous Press Law is 96 of 1996, which specify a one-year imprisonment for defamation.
Egyptian press freedom is also restricted when it comes to offending public morality as in the case where “Al Naba'” journal was closed for over a year. The journal was accused of offending the public morality as it published photos of a monk having sexual relations with women in a monastery and then blackmailing them as he videotaped them having sex with him. Although defamation is supposed to be a legal action that protects the reputation of individuals, it can sometimes be used illegally to oppress freedom of expression… To sum up, although some may complain about the current restrictions upon the media, I believe the current Egyptian media is heading more towards democracy and freedom of expression.
The Term Paper on Students Freedom of Speech in School
The First Amendment states that all citizens of the U. S have freedom of religion, petition, assembly, press, and speech. The First Amendment was written and adopted for over two hundred years of American History. Throughout this period people have questioned the extent of freedom that they were given through the First Amendment. The freedom of speech is probably the most misunderstood of all the ...
