Egypt: Editor-in-Chief of Al-Dustur jailed for writing rumors on President Mubarak

Posted by Carolyn Lo on March 27, 2008 at 9:56 AM

On Wednesday, Ibrahim Eissa (shown in photo), Egyptian Editor-in-Chief of Al-Dustur, was sentenced to six months in jail on the charge of spreading "false information [on 79 year old President Hosni Mubarak's health].. damaging the public interest and national stability." He faces up to three years in prison with the ability to appeal to sentence.

Eissa's reports were accused of causing foreign investors to withdraw more than $350mil. from the stock exchange, thus harming Egypt's economy.

In September, at least seven journalists were sentenced up to two years in prison because of misquoting the justice minister and writing speculative reports in Egypt's independent press of Mubarak's hospitalization, travel abroad for treatment, and even death.

23 papers have suspended publication for one day in October in protest.

Eissa said the verdict showed the regime's hostility to the press and "affirms the holiness of President Mubarak and the rejection of any criticism of him or his policies. I don't know if this is a judicial decision or a political one."

Source: AFP (photo) through EJC