Hassan Masri-Cairo

"Follow the policy I do not hear I do not see I do not speak even on your personal page through the networking sites" These words described the journalist, "Abdel Nasser," who works in a private newspaper, the instructions of his manager, which summarizes the reality of the media in Egypt today.

Nasser's director told him clearly and firmly that there was no way to approach the army, the interior, or President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, on the grounds that he wanted to implement issues critical of the regime's economic policies and their impact on citizens, which was rejected.

He only had to accept the fait accompli and go to waste, or insist on referring him for investigation and dismissal and informing the police of him on charges of stirring rumors, spreading false news and overthrowing the regime, charges facing journalists and politicians in Egypt and imprisoning some of them.

In his interview with Al Jazeera Net, Nasser believes that the work of journalism is no longer present in Egypt, where it became limited to the production of news and data and comment on the statements of officials, to be in one direction is a tribute only, where the work shifted to "deliver mail and not the press and media That I studied. "

"Unfortunately, I have no choice but to have a fait accompli because I have a family to support, and I fear prison in one of the most repressive countries against journalists and media people in the world.

Reform allegations

Since the military coup in the summer of 2013, the Egyptian authorities have imposed strict censorship on the media, leading to the closure of many newspapers, news sites and television channels, as well as the arrest of many journalists and media professionals on the pretext of terrorism and joining a group that breaks the law or destabilize security and arouse public opinion and overthrow the regime.

This was further aggravated by the arrest of three journalists, the Associated Press correspondent Mustafa Al-Khatib from his home, the photographer Abdullah Al-Saeed, and the journalist and political activist Esraa Abdel-Fattah, who was abducted in a humiliating manner and subjected to a large defamation campaign that amounted to libel and libel.

The head of the Journalists' Syndicate Committee on Liberties, Amr Badr, denounced the negative dealings with prisoners of conscience and journalists in Egypt, despite the recent talk about the regime's intention to adopt new policies to guarantee freedom of media and political action, following the escalation of popular protests and the outrageous demonstrations called by the actor and contractor Mohamed Ali.

On his Facebook account, Badr said it is natural to announce the whereabouts of any convict to the official authorities in order to investigate the presence of a lawyer and a party from the syndicate to attend the investigation, pointing out that the journalist's mission is to criticize and reveal the truth and express his opinion freely.

Repression of the capital of the regime

According to human rights activist Wael Sayed, the repression of journalists is the capital of the regime so that it can quell any dissenting opinion, especially as the voice of the media is valid and reaches many and was part of the reasons for the revolution of 25 January 2011.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Sayyed pointed out that the regime does not want to be criticized or blamed for the deteriorating economic and social conditions due to its irrational policies, especially with increasing levels of poverty and the destruction of the middle class, and may lose water in the future.

According to the latest report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Egypt is one of the most repressive countries for journalists and press freedom. It ranks 163 out of 180 in press freedom, but the regime always maintains its respect for press freedom and expression.