Parliamentary Speaker Ali Abdelaal has apologized to journalists tasked with reporting about parliamentary issues after MP Mahmoud Khamis attacked journalist Mohamed Tareq, who works for the privately-owned Al-Watan.
In a meeting with parliamentary reporters on Tuesday, Abdelaal said, “I can never accept an insult against a journalist or media professional inside the parliament,” adding that journalists deliver a respectful message and thus getting the information should be easy.
Regarding reporters decision to boycott parliamentary sessions, Abdelaal said, “this parliament is owned by people who have the right to know what happens inside it. The journalist is like a fighter who should not leave his weapon. The journalist’s weapon is publishing the news.”
The incident in question occurred on Monday when MP Tawfiq Okasha was expelled from the session.
Journalists gathered around him for statements over his reasons for leaving and Khamis intervened to prevent them from talking to Okasha.
“No one will talk to him. There’s nothing to be said,” said Khamis. Okasha didn’t mind talking to journalists, which led them to continue asking him questions.
Before Okasha started speaking, Khamis attacked Tareq by saying, “I’ll teach you how to be polite and prevent you access. I want to know who your chief editor is because you are an impolite person.” Other MPs intervened immediately to end the issue.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
