CAIRO: A media watchdog on Thursday urged President Hosni Mubarak to fulfill a two-year-old pledge to amend a law which lays down jail terms for journalists convicted in libel cases. “The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urges you to fulfill the commitment you made two years ago today to initiate legislation to eliminate prison sentences for what journalists report, CPJ said in an open letter. CPJ was referring to a highly publicized vow to amend a 1996 press law which imposes jail terms for defamation, saying the changes would eliminate prison sentences. But two years on, the provision remains in the law. “The hopes spawned when Egyptian press syndicate secretary general Galal Aref publicly conveyed your promise on February 23, 2004, have gradually given way to disappointment, CPJ said. “Not only is your pledge unfulfilled two years later, but during this period journalists were sentenced to prison, harassed and assaulted for doing their job, it added. “CPJ calls on your Excellency to promptly carry out your promise and turn the page on imprisoning Egyptian journalists for what they report. AFP
Mubarak urged to make good on press law pledge
