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The Internet In the Arab World
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No Rules, No Limits
United Arab Emirates:
Freedom of expression is missing despite a decision banning imprisonment for press crimes
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The prison sentence against Howayda Taha canceled and the fine judgment confirmed
Cairo February, 11th, 2008
Al-Nozha Appeal Court passed today its judgment against Howayda Taha the program producer and director of Al-Jazeerah news channel. The court decided to cancel the prison sentence issued by the first instance court and confirming the judgment of LE 20,000 (Around US $ 3800) fine.
On May 2, 2007, Al-Nozha Misdemeanor court sentenced Howayda Taha to 6 months imprisonment in addition to the aforementioned fine. The judgment had come on the background of charging Taha of publishing false news and defaming the country. These charges were made against her because of her filming of a documentary entitled "behind the sun" or (Waraa Al-Shams) featuring cases of torture in Egyptian police stations.
Despite of canceling the prison sentence against Howayda Taha, the three human rights organizations, signing this statement, consider that this judgment is again strongly restricting freedom of expression and the right to unmask the widespread violations including, of course, torture.
The undersigned human rights organizations confirming again – as they were part of Howayda Taha's defense front - that Howayda neither violated the law nor defamed the country. The torture filmed in her documentary represents actual cases for citizens who had been tortured in police stations, even some of these cases were sent to the court where the torturers were eventually condemned. Moreover, Howayda Taha didn't defame Egypt as the real defamation is caused by those exercising torture, and protecting torturers, not by those who unveil and expose its details.
Organizations signing:
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Hisham Mubarak Law Center
Freedom center for political rights and democracy support
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