Twenty-four rights organizations have submitted a report to Egypt's Attorney General to call for the trial of Minister of Information Anas al-Fiqqi, accusing him of being responsible for the death of protesters who called for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
The organizations held al-Fiqqi responsible for the "crimes committed in Egypt on Wednesday 2 February which led to the death of 11 people and the injury of 820 others." They also threatened to resort to international arbitration if no procedures are adopted against the minister.
In their report, the organizations said that the media campaign launched by the Egyptian Information Ministry incited hatred against peaceful protesters calling for reform, by accusing them of treason.
In a statement, the organizations said al-Fiqqi used Egyptian Television to perpetrate rumors about the peaceful protesters on Egyptian streets, particularly those in Tahrir Square.
The report included some of the news reported by state television, which it described as "false," saying it was misused to turn public opinion against the protesters.
Egyptian radio and television, the report continued, are owned by the nation and should have been used neutrally to deliver the truth.
