Egypt bars detained opposition leader's newspaper

Posted by Bertrand Pecquerie on March 10, 2005 at 5:04 PM

AFP reports that Egyptian government "blocked the distribution of the first edition of detained Egyptian opposition leader Ayman Nur's newspaper in which he announces his intention to run for president. "The newspaper was printed but even as the copies were in the cars on their way to being distributed, they were recalled," his wife Gamila Ismail told AFP. Nur was arrested in January on charges of "falsifying official documents" in a case that raised concern among international human rights groups and within the US administration. His detention comes amid intense political upheaval in Egypt, and the 40-year-old lawyer has become for some a symbol of the movement for democratic reform.

In the first issue of Al-Ghad (Tomorrow), which was due to hit the newsstands Tuesday, Nur announced his intention to run in the presidential election later this year."

"In late February, Egyptian President Mubarak, who has ruled over the country unchallenged for 23 years, proposed a constitutional amendment allowing for multi-candidate presidential elections. The first issue of the weekly newspaper sports a large headline in orange
letters that reads: "Ayman Nur to run in presidential election from Tura prison".

The front page also carries a large empty column only signed by Ayman Nur and dated "Tura prison" as a symbol of his detention.

... Nur's party lawyer Amir Salem said the newspaper had a deal with the government daily Al-Ahram for printing and distribution "but the workers there were told last night by state security people to stop the distribution. "What we heard is that the newspaper has been stopped until the attorney general reviews it," he told AFP. "I hope it will out tomorrow."
Priced at one Egyptian pound (17 US cents), the first issue focuses on
presenting the members of Nur's Ghad party, which was founded in October 2004, only the third time the Egyptian state allowed the creation of a new political party.

The 40-year-old lawyer is now seen by some as the symbol of the young guard and reform movement in Egypt, and by others as an opportunist with no genuine commitment to democratic values."

Source: AFP

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