Egypt Court Upholds Government's Right to Block Opposition Websites
Egypt: Court Upholds Government's Right to Block Opposition Websites
Reporters Without Borders has condemned a ruling by an administrative court attached to Egypt's council of state upholding an information and communication ministry decision in mid June 2006 that the authorities can block, suspend or shut down any website liable to pose a threat to national security.
The judge who issued the ruling, Farouq Abdul-Qader, even urged parliament to pass a law to this effect as soon as possible.
"Empowering government officials to shut down a website on their own initiative is unacceptable," Reporters Without Borders said. "We hold that only a judge should be able take this kind of action. The council of state ruling could set a dangerous judicial precedent. This complicity between courts and government bodes ill for online free expression in Egypt and we would oppose any law endorsing the judge's decision."
Freedom of expression is not welcome anymore in Egypt. Corrupt judges are to blame, they are responsible for rigging up the elections and jailing opposition leaders such as Ayman Nour, and passing stupid rulings that take Egypt to the dark days of oppression.
Reporters Without Borders has condemned a ruling by an administrative court attached to Egypt's council of state upholding an information and communication ministry decision in mid June 2006 that the authorities can block, suspend or shut down any website liable to pose a threat to national security.
The judge who issued the ruling, Farouq Abdul-Qader, even urged parliament to pass a law to this effect as soon as possible.
"Empowering government officials to shut down a website on their own initiative is unacceptable," Reporters Without Borders said. "We hold that only a judge should be able take this kind of action. The council of state ruling could set a dangerous judicial precedent. This complicity between courts and government bodes ill for online free expression in Egypt and we would oppose any law endorsing the judge's decision."
Freedom of expression is not welcome anymore in Egypt. Corrupt judges are to blame, they are responsible for rigging up the elections and jailing opposition leaders such as Ayman Nour, and passing stupid rulings that take Egypt to the dark days of oppression.