The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression called on the Egyptian government to “start obliging by its international duties in regards to freedom of expression,” through a legal study they released Monday.
This is “especially pertaining to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant of on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights,” the study said.
The study, “Censorship on Publications”, cited several trials of legal censorship on publications. It added that the government “must allow ordinary and legal people to issue periodical and non-periodical publications without the imposition of unnecessary restrictions”.
Individuals who wish to publish must only comply with notification, says AFTE, and not “any other preliminary forms of censorship on the content of the publications”.
AFTE’s legal study, entitled “Censorship on Publications,” questions the restrictions the Egyptian state and legislative system imposes on freedom of expression and of opinion.
The study aimed to outline responsibilities and duties in exercising the right to freedom of expression according to international standards of freedom of publication and circulation of publications.
AFTE criticised the Egyptian legislative system’s legal obstacles and “regulatory barriers” surrounding the issuance and circulation of publications as well as the cancellation and confiscation of press licences.
