(Photo Public Domain)
An administrative court ruled against the decision made by Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed Fahmy to remove Editor-in-Chief of state-owned newspaper, Al-Gomhouriya, Gamal Abdel-Rehim from his post.
Fahmy removed Abdel-Rehim, replacing him with Al-Sayed Al-Bably in November after Abdel-Rehim ran a front page story stating that then-defence minister and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces Mohamed Hussein Tantawi and his Chief of Staff Sami Anan had been subjected to travel bans.
Abdel-Rehim’s lawyers argued that the Shura Council had the authority to appoint editors-in-chief of state-owned papers for three year stints (eligible for renewal), and that the legislative body did not have the authority to remove him.
The former editor-in-chief welcomed the court’s decision in statements to state-owned Al-Ahram, saying that it was a victory for the freedom of the press, adding that he expected the ruling to be implemented.
He added that he had contacted Press Syndicate Chairman Diaa Rashwan, who in turn contacted Fahmy, telling him to implement the administrative court’s Tuesday ruling.
He accused the Shura Council of attacking the freedom of the press and said that the court’s ruling proved that Fahmy had acted illegally.
Abdel-Rehim said his dismissal was a “matter of settling scores” and a politically motivated decision made by the Muslim Brotherhood.
A court had already ruled in favour of Abdel-Rehim in November, but the verdict was never carried out.
