The State Council’s legislative department received Wednesday a draft law submitted by the Cabinet that would ban news related to the military.
The council is supposed to review the constitutionality of the law.
One article in the draft stipulates the need for prior permission from the Armed Forces’ general command before reporting or broadcasting news about its formations, movements and equipment.
It imposes a jail term from six months to five years and a fine of LE100-500 for violators.
The draft law states that this information is vital to state security, therefore requiring entire secrecy so as not prevent them being leaked to entities that would use them against the country.
Egypt’s military has been struggling against a series of bloody attacks against its troops since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsy. Authorities accuse Morsy’s Muslim Brotherhood of standing behind the attacks. The MB says it is a peaceful organization.
Criticisms of the army have become more sensitive under incumbet president and former defense minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in many cases drawing accusations of treason by highly-chauvisinstic, pro-regime media.
Press freedoms advocates are wary that freedom of opinion woudl witness a decline under Sisi's government as a number of media hosts were banned, with a number of newspapers annoucing intentions to cease any reports critical of the military.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
.
