The decision of Diaa Rashwan, head of the Journalists Syndicate, to prevent political activist Alaa Abdel Fattah from entering the syndicate triggered controversy within the board.
The freedoms and legislation committees rejected the decision, while board member Khaled al-Balshy said he was not informed of it. “I was not consulted,” he said. ‘I don’t know if Rashwan took the decision alone or consulted others.”
He said a colleague had recommended to bar Abdel Fattah from entering because many members complained about what happened at a symposium of the Freedoms Committee as was recorded on video. “But the board did not cast a vote on that recommendation and sufficed with a statement denouncing foul language,” he said.
Mohamed Abdel Quddous, rapporteur of the Freedoms Committee, said the decision was arbitrary.
Syndicate Secretary Karem Mahmoud said Rashwan has the right to take that decision, especially that Abdel Fattah is not a member of the syndicate. “Rashwan is the one who would be brought to account if any misconduct occurs,” he said.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
