Egyptian Speaker Ali Abdul Aal highlighted the important role played by free press in the society, adding that media platforms should not be subject to the procedures of the "terrorist entities" law.
The Speaker was addressing a plenary session during which parliamentarians discussed amendments of ‘terrorist entities’ law and the constitutionality of including the various types of media that commit violations under the law. They reiterated their pledge to ensure media openness in the country.
The recent measures come three months after the Speaker announced ‘political, partisan, and media reforms’.
During the same session, the Speaker linked removing the text with the "appreciation of the freedom of the media", considering that this approach is a victory for the freedom of opinion and that there is no need to “clash with the articles of freedoms in the constitution.”
Last week, the Speaker also discussed the constitutional “victory” of the press, describing the free press as the foundation of any free democratic society.
MP Mustafa Bakri warned against ‘killing’ partisan life and silencing the opposition, stressing that all opinions must be represented in the media.
Last month, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called on the Minister of State for Information, Osama Heikal, to adopt a media strategy within the framework of a policy that ensures more openness to all political forces and spectra, so that the Egyptian media can retain its role locally and regionally.
Internet users in Egypt can finally access the websites of BBC Arabic, al-Hurra, Mada Masr, among others. Some of those websites asserted previously in separate statements that people were facing difficulties in browsing their websites which were partially or fully blocked.
Earlier, Sisi called for supporting the concept of professional media in Egypt in a disciplined framework to stay up to date with the great developments in international media.
