Release from The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information - The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information - anhri.net - expressed its objection and firm condemnation toward Al Ahram Press’ rejection to print the second edition of Al-Badeel, the daily independent newspaper today, following the newspaper coverage of the fire breakout in al-Shoura Council, including some highlights of experts’ stating that the “fire occurred by an actor”.

The readers of Al Badeel newspaper were shocked by its absence in markets whether yesterday night, or today’s morning, in a phone call between the Arabic Network and officials in Al Badeel Newspaper, the Network was informed that Al Ahram Press officials had refused to complete printing the first edition that come out in evening, they have also refused to print the second edition entirely under the pretext of delay in the sending the edition. Although some journalists in Al Ahram Newspaper, the press owner and responsible for printing around 75% of Egyptian newspapers, stated that the highlights of Al Badeel yesterday 19th of August, which included: “joyfulness in Pakistan following the President Resignation… Egyptian Politicians: Wishing the same for us”, what annoyed the security apparatus, and it has happened again in the highlights of today which included: “ Big Fire in al Shoura Council Building, reached the People’s Council” and “ In the Incident Fires Ripe the Documents of the “Death Ferry”, the Train of Upper Egypt, and the Cancerous Pesticides”. Hence printing both the first and second editions was rejected.

Rejection to print Al Badeel comes to expose the dishonesty of the government claims denying the censorship on press, where the ban took place under flimsy arguments, allegedly “delay in sending the PDF copies that were prepared for printing”. While the officials of Al Badeel affirmed that they are committed to the agreed upon timing, as well as sending a letterhead fax message, with a notice bearing Al Ahram newspaper press the responsibility for the delay and not printing the edition, which is considered as a breach in the agreement between them.

The rejection of printing or delaying some of the publication become a common attitude, from which the government-criticizing newspapers – such as Addustour and Al Badeel had suffered, what explains the absence such newspaper from the stores and delay in printing them in many occasions. What requires opening this intricate file, where domination and control over printing and distributing press in particular if those press owned by Al Ahram newspaper, the largest press in Egypt and Middle East.

The Arabic Network believes that this matter is in harmony to the government’s retreat to dominate and censor over the satellite channels and station that broadcast through “NileSat” using its ownership.

“Preventing a newspaper print or delaying it is a breach in the obligation of Al Ahram Press towards those newspapers according to a signed contracts between them, and an indirect and obscure approach, that exposes the censorship concealed behind this ban.” said Gamal Eid the executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.

The Arabic Network calls on those who are concerned of the press freedom to open this “silent-on” file, find a solution for, since there is no way to speak about press freedom in absence of print and distribution rights.

Cairo on 20th August, 2008