Egypt’s opinion writers increased space for commentaries regarding the case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed at his consulate in Istanbul.
In state-owned daily Al-Ahram, Osama Al-Ghazaly Harb praised Egypt’s stance through statements issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry demanding truth to be revealed through transparent investigations, and warning against politicising the case and using it against Saudi Arabia.
The privately-owned Al-Shourouk included on Sunday several pieces about the case. Editor-in-Chief Emad El-Din Hussein followed up on his own article form last week, where he argued that the media failed to stick to professional and objective standards in the coverage of the case. This time, Hussein admitted that some international outlets have indeed been balanced, playing an important role in exposing the case.
Al-Shorouk’s Mohamed Saad Abdel Hafiz opinionated that Khashoggi was killed due to a desire to silence his voice as a journalist, and that despite being murdered he remains victorious in exposing injustice, and bringing the world’s attention to crimes committed against Arab journalists, especially critics.
In defence of free press, Al-Shorouk’s Ayman Al-Sayyad said it won over official statements, which eventually confirmed what the press has been reporting since Khashoggi’s disappearance, that he was killed inside the consulate. Al-Sayyad praised The Washington Post, for which Khashoggi wrote, which successfully led the quest for truth.
The newspaper’s Hossam Al-Sokkary’s piece was a conversation between two people, one of them an alleged unnamed person working in the media who argued that the entire case was a Turkish-led conspiracy against the Saudis, and that the Turks kidnapped or killed him. Even when that person becomes aware of the Saudi officials’ version of the story, which said a fight with Khashoggi took place, he blames Turkey for it.
Last, but not least, the private Al-Masry Al-Youm’s published the Saudi al-Riyadh newspaper editorial team’s piece themed the reinforcement of justice, expressing confidence in the Saudi judicial system and support to the kingdom, where citizens should feel safe and equal by the principles of Islamic law applied.
In other news, a recurrent theme was picked by Al-Ahram’s Salah Montasser: amending the constitution to extend the presidential term to six years. Montasser also opinionated that a senate – Shura council which was previously abolished – should return.
