CAIRO: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the court s recent decision to fine Nader Gohar, the head of the Cairo News Company (CNC), LE 150,000 after his company broadcast images of rioters tearing down portraits of President Hosni Mubarak in April.
The court s decision is a death warrant to CNC, RSF said in a press statement. The Egyptian authorities are not even trying to hide their desire to censor independent media and control the news.
The Egyptian Television and Radio union (ERTU) had filed a complaint against Gohar for airing footage of riots in the Delta region showing citizens protesting high prices and attacking President Mubarak s pictures. The footage dates back to April 6.
Following the complaint, the Egyptian police forces raided CNC s office confiscating several pieces of equipment, accusing him of working without required licenses and permits.
The video recording was later aired by channels such as Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya and France 2.
Egyptian state-run newspapers reported the court s decision without mentioning the riots.
The court fined Gohar LE 100,000 for operating a broadcast network without the necessary permits and LE 50,000 for operating unlicensed broadcasting equipment, Gohar told Agence France-Presse.
However, Gohar told RSF that his request to renew his airing license was suspended by the Egyptian government in 2007 because they are waiting for the new media relegation law.
“The case is not legitimate as the sole reason behind it is the footage that shows the citizens stepping on President Mubarak s picture, Gamal Eid, head of the Arabic network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) who is also part of Gohar s defense team told Daily News Egypt. “Security forces wanted a scapegoat to show the president that they got who s responsible, Eid added.
Eid pointed out that the confiscated equipment is owned by France 2 channel and that the defense has proven that in court. He also highlighted the illegitimacy of storing the equipment at ERTU s headquarters, given that they are a rival company.
“The fine is severe but the missing equipment is another serious matter as inappropriate storage can ruin it, Eid said.
According to Eid, ANHRI will appeal the case soon.
