The undersecretary for the Journalists' Syndicate Khaled al-Balshy said the referral of the editor-in-chief, the chairman of the board of directors and the editor of the Al-Bayan newspaper to a criminal trial has brought about a state of anxiety on the freedom of press.
Balshy told MBC Monday evening that Bayan published a denial of the news it had already had published which had caused a crisis.
"The syndicate's law stipulates that one of the members of the board should be present during investigations of any journalist and this did not happen," Balshy added.
He added that the top prosecutor's statement demanded the syndicate stand against reporters who are not members of the organization, which is contrary to the ethics of the profession. Balshy said the statement was contrary to law and reality.
Balshy criticized the police's storming of Washwasha's website headquarters, saying it was a blatant violation of the freedom of press.
The top prosecutor referred editor-in-chief of Bayan Ibrahim Aref, the chairman of the board of directors Nagiba al-Mahfoub and editor Sara Alaa Eddin to trial for circulating false news.
The top prosecutor's statement called on the Journalists' Syndicate to take legal action against unregistered workers with the press.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
