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EOHR condemns the arrest of “Hoida Taha “and calls for releasing the freedom of opinion and expression
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31/1/2008
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights condemned the arrest of “Hoida Taha” ,Journalist at “El Gezira” channel ,during here movie shooting concerning itinerants workers and nests’ inhabitants at Abu Ghalib village –Imbaba center and confiscating the recorded tape ,the matter which is considered a violation against the freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed by the Constitution and international covenants on human rights .
EOHR attended the investigations with “Hoida Taha” which showed that she was arrested by the officers of Imbaba police station at 9:00 am on 28/1/2008 during here shooting a documented film entitled” In the shadow” .She was confined from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm ,then she was transferred to Imbaba prosecution for investigation in the record No 402 –Administrative –Imbaba center . She and the Photographer who accompanied here were investigated by the prosecution chief and she had confined since 8:00 pm until she was released at 1:00 am on 29/1/2008 .
it is surprising that, despite the long period of confinement ,the prosecution changed the description of “Hoida Taha” from "suspected “to “standing before prosecution " besides, confiscating the recorded tape although she got a permission from the censorship of audio and artistic works .
In this regard, the Egyptian Organization confirmed that the arrest of the journalist is a violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression stipulated in the Egyptian Constitution and international covenants on human rights as follows :
- Article 47 of the Egyptian Constitution stated that , "Freedom of opinion is guaranteed and everyone expresses his opinion by all means of expression ( orally –writing – shooting )within the limits of law and self-criticism and constructive criticism to ensure the safety of national reconstruction."
- Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stated that "Every person is enjoyed with the freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes the freedom of holding opinions without interference and to seek information and ideas, receive and impart to others by any means regardless of frontiers".
- Article 19 / 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stated that
"Everyone has the right to the freedom of expression, this right includes the freedom of seeking different paths of information and ideas regardless of frontiers, whether it was written or printed or in the form of template or through any other media of his choice. "
At the same time, the Egyptian Organization confirmed that the confinement of “Hoida Taha” is a violation to Article (40) of the Criminal Procedures law , as well as to the clause of Article 280 of the Penal Code, which prohibits the arrest or detention of any person without a permission from the involved sides ,also the illegal confinement of the journalist is a violation of the right to liberty and the security of person which was guaranteed by the Constitution and international covenants on human rights.
In light of the foregoing, EOHR calls Syndicate of Journalists and all society powers for standing as one unit against the restricted procedures imposed on the freedom of opinion and expression , and to work rapidly to cancel the negative punishments for the freedom of publishing crimes to protect journalism and journalists .
EOHR also stresses on the necessary for working to establish a legal mechanism to question on withholding information over the press by any government or public side, and prohibit the imposition of any restrictions on the freedom of information flow , without committing a prejudice against the requirements of defense and national security and to stop practices that violate the freedom of press and journalists committed by the executive authority , and take a guaranteed procedures to ensure the safety of the lives of journalists against repression or murder, detention or arbitrary exposure .
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