Discrepancies that existed between Egypt's state-owned and independent newspapers, which had disappeared recently as state newspapers adopted a voice typically associated with the opposition, are starting to surface again. While independent newspapers discuss ongoing issues and criticized government performance, state owned Al-Ahram has returned to dedicating its front page and a large portion of its content to officials’ statements and latest moves.
Newspapers discuss labor issues and events scheduled for Labor Day, while Salafi protests demanding the retrieval of Kamilia Shehata, believed to be incarcerated by the Coptic Church after converting to Islam, captured attention.
Salafi protesters surrounded the cathedral in Abasseya to demand the release of Shehata. Many other Salafi protests took place around Egypt, with slogans calling for an Islamic state, a development that raised concerns in many quarters.
Al-Ahram stayed true to its pre-revolutionary voice by responding to events with a front page headline covering a meeting between Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, and Pope Shenouda III, in which they committed to collaborate. However, most independent papers did not cover this news. Al-Ahram also declared that it received information that the Shehata issue is about to be resolved. The Voice of the Nation newspaper quotes Hamdy Badin, head of the military police, as announcing that the military has committed to freeing Shehata within 18 days.
The independent daily Al-Dostour, however, publishes a story saying that the church refused to accept the attorney general’s order requesting that Shehata appear in court for investigation. The news contradicted speculation that a solution is near.
In his column in the independent daily Al-Shorouk, Wael Kandil said that narrowing the scope of the revolution’s demands to Shehata’s release endangers the revolution’s goals. He said that the Salafis do not have the right to protest since they were against protests at the beginning of the 25 January revolution.
A meeting of the Muslim Brotherhood’s high board on Saturday resulted in a surprise announcement that they will compete for 50 percent of parliamentary seats in the upcoming elections, although they had repeatedly assured the public that they would not aim for more than 30 percent. The meeting also selected Mohamed Morsy as president for the group’s newly formed Justice and Freedom Party. Essam al-Eryan was selected as vice president and Saad al-Katatney as secretary general.
Al-Shorouk revisits Labor Day celebrations in the past with speeches by former President Hosni Mubarak, former head of the Trade Union Federation Hussein Mogawer, and former Minister of Labor Aisha Abdel Hady, who used the occasion to flatter Mubarak and overlooked all problems that the Egyptian labor force faces. The newspaper compares past Labor Day celebrations to the scene today where labor forces celebrate in Tahrir Square and speak for their own interests.
Back to its role as a platform for the government, Al-Ahram newspaper publishes an interview with the head of the military's judiciary body, Adel al-Morsy, in which he discusses the military’s respect for human rights and democracy. He also answers criticism directed at the military for trying civilians in special tribunals and committing other violations.
The Voice of the Nation publishes responses from the recently-appointed governors who were rejected by the public and whose appointments caused recent unrest in many governorates.
Emad Mikhael, the governor of Qena, whose activities have been stopped following public disobedience in the governorate due to his appointment, says he could not possibly continue working in his position after having been rejected by the people. Alexandria’s governor Essam Salem denied, along with various corruption allegations of which Alexandrians had accused him, of being a member of Mubarak's National Democratic Party. Daqahlia’s governor, Mohsen Hefzy, former assistant to the minister of interior, said that the people’s rejection of him was based on the faulty premise that he was one of Habib al-Adly’s men, a belief he corrected through public meetings.
The Voice of the People publishes exclusive pictures of regime figures inside Tora prison, accompanied by sarcastic comments.
Hossam Eissa, a member of the legal committee to retrieve Mubarak’s assets abroad, warns in an interview with Al-Shorouk that the countries that declared they would freeze Mubarak’s assets have not done so yet, and says the Egyptian government has a responsibility to put pressure on those countries to follow through with the decisions.
Egypt's papers:
Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt
Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size
Al-Gomhorriya: Daily, state-run
Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Arab Nasserist party
Youm7: Weekly, privately owned
Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
