Gould1

KayleyGould
Ms.Alvarado
Period5
29April2016
FreedomofExpressioninEgypt
I.

Introduction
Inonerecentcase,aCairomisdemeanorcourtonDecember26,2011,sentenceda

democracyactivist,GaberElsayedGaber,toayearinprisonforhandingoutleafletsatapublic
rallyinCairo.1 TheEgyptiangovernmentisseverelylimitingtheircitizensfreedomof
expressionandwillnottolerateanyinformationbeingspreadthattheydonotagreewith.
Unfortunately,thediscriminationagainstjournalistsdoesnotstopthere.Reportshaveshown,
Securityforceshaveengagedinbrutalbeatingsandusedexcessiveforceagainstdemonstrators
inCairoandtriedtostopjournalistsfromreportingonthem.2TheEgyptiangovernmentand
policearedesperatelytryingtostopinformationfrombeingleaked.Egyptwantstostoptheflow
ofinformationbecausealotofpeopleareshamingthegovernment.Ifpeopleturnagainstthe
government,itwillcausechaosandlimittheirpower.Bylimitingthefreedomofreligion,
rallies,protests,andpress,theEgyptiangovernmentisimmenselydenyingtheircitizensthe
universalrightoffreedomofexpression.3ThePresidentofEgypt,Sisi,wrote,Theattempts
bypoliceofficerstoviolatehumanrightsmuststop.4Eventhepolice,thepeoplewhoare
supposedtoprotectyourrights,arenothonoringthepeoplesfreedoms.ThePresident
acknowledgethatwhatpolicearedoingiswrong,buthedidnothingtochangeit.Additionally,

"Egypt:AYearofAttacksonFreeExpression."HumanRightsWatch.2012.AccessedMarch25,2016.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/02/11/egyptyearattacksfreeexpression.
2
Ibid
3

EgyptianWriterCaughtupinGovernment'sExpandingCrackdown."WashingtonPost.AccessedMarch29,2016.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egyptianwritercaughtupingovernmentsexpandingcrackdown/2016/02/02/92
77f8c4c5f411e5b93331c93021392a_story.html?tid=a_inl
.
4
Ibid

Gould2

During[a]protest,Egyptiansecurityforcesdrovetheirtrucksintothecrowdandfiredon
protesters,crushingandkillingatleast24andwoundingmorethan300people.Bytheendof
[2012,]morethan200,000Copts[anethnoreligiousgroup]hadfledtheirhomesinanticipation
ofmoreattacks.5PeopleabandoningtheirhomesdemonstratesthelackofsafetytheEgyptian
peoplefeelbecausethepolicearenotonlylimitingtheirrightsbutthreateningthemfortheir
beliefs.Thepolicearesupposedtomakepeoplefeelsafehowever,peoplefearthembecause
theyarenotallowingpeopletoexpresstheiropinions.Protestorsarearrestedandabusedfor
sharingtheiropinion,andtheChristianminorityistargetedfortheirdifferingbeliefs.Inanother
account,HishamKassem,aCairobasedpoliticalanalyst,said,Thearrestsandcrackdownsare
becominglessandlessacceptableandtherevolution[in2011]didntoccuronlybecauseof
policebrutality,butalsobecauseofpooreconomicconditions.6Whentheeconomyispoor,
peopletendtobecomedesperateandmakerashdecisions.Theserashdecisionsmakethepolice
morealertandcausethemtoincreasepunishmentsonpeopletheyfeelareunruly.Thedecisions
tomonitorinformationoftenhavelittleregardforthecountryasawhole,andonlybenefitthe
government.Inthiscase,therestrictionofrightsonthepeopleonlybenefittheEgyptianpolice
andgovernmentbecauselimitingthepowerofthecitizensgivesthegovernmentmorecontrol
overwhatthecitizensbelieve.
BothcurrentandpastconditionsinEgyptarelessthanidealforthecitizenshowever,
thereishope.Manyofthecitizenswereoptimisticwhen,Freedomofexpressionatfirst
appearedtoimproveafterMorsi[,Egyptsfirstdemocraticallyelectedpresident,]tookpower,for

Ali,AyaanHirsi."THERISEOFCHRISTOPHOBIA.(coverstory)."
Newsweek
159,no.7(February13,2012):28.
MasterFILEPremier
,EBSCO
host
(accessedMarch25,2016).
5

WashingtonPost
EgyptianWriterCaughtupinGovernment'sExpandingCrackdown

Gould3

examplewhenhebannedthepretrialdetentionofjournalistsinAugust2012,7butsoonafter,
theyrealizedthathecensoredjustasmuchofthemediaasthepreviousleaders.8 Additionally,
Students...arepartofthelargertrendtowardincreasedreligiousfaithamongEgypt'syoung
people,especiallycollegestudents.9 Freedomofreligionisahugepartoffreedomof
expression.Ifthenewgenerationbelievesthatthereisaneedforchange,theywillbeableto
implementitinthefuture.Unfortunately,theyouthdoesnotyethaveenoughpowertomakea
changebecausethegovernmentdoesnotviewthemasintelligentenough.AliMustafa(29)
wantsmorepeopletotakeactiontocreatemorefreedomofexpression,buthesaid,Butwhat
canwedo?Ifwetrytochangethings,theywillputusinjail.10
Mustafaisexpressingthat
youngpeoplepowerlesswhenitcomestomakingadifference.
II.

HistoricalBackgroundofHumanRights
Inthepast,theEgyptiangovernmenthasnothandledtheprotectionofthisrightina

reasonablemanner.HassibaHadjSahraoui,theMiddleEastandNorthAfricaDeputyDirector
forAmnestyInternational,said,TheplansbytheEgyptianauthoritiestoindiscriminately
monitorsocialmediaafewmonthsaftertheadoptionofanewconstitutionguaranteeingthe
righttoprivacyshowsthelittleregardtheyhaveforhumanrightsortheruleoflaw.11
Monitoringallsocialmediainthecountry,especiallyafterembracinganewconstitution,isnot
grantingtheEgyptianstherightoffreedomofexpression.Thisdoesnotallowpeopletosay

"Egypt."FreedomHouse|.AccessedApril27,2016.

https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedomworld/2014/egypt
.

Ibid
9

AbdelKouddous,Sharif."TreatedLikeEnemies."
Progressive
79,no.11(November2015):20.
MasterFILE
8

10

YoungPeopleLedEgypt'sRevolution,buttheOldGuardStillRules."WashingtonPost.AccessedApril06,2016.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/youngpeopleledegyptsrevolutionbuttheoldguardstillrules/2014/04/20/db2
de62657424125be4e9d81ead543d0_story.html.
11

Egypt's Plan for Mass Surveillance of Social Media an Attack on Internet Privacy and Freedom of Expression." Egypt's
Plan for Mass Surveillance of Social Media an Attack on Internet Privacy and Freedom of Expression. Accessed March 25,
2016.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2014/06/egypt-s-attack-internet-privacy-tightens-noose-freedom-expression/
.

Gould4

whattheythinkbecauseifthegovernmentdisagreeswithit,theywillbepunished.The
governmenthadfewintentionsofactuallygrantingtheEgyptianpeopletheright,theyjust
wantedtomakethemselveslookbetter.Egyptadoptedtheconstitution,sotheycouldclaimthat
theygrantedtheircitizenstheUniversalRights.Additionally,KatieColeman,authorofablog
aboutcurrentsituationsinEgypt,adds,...TherightofEgyptianstoexpressfreepresshasgone
withoutemphasis.DuringNassersreign,thecensorshipofbooks,periodicals,andfilms,
continuedastheintrusivehabitsofNasserscensorsroutinelyopenedlettersandtaped
telephonecalls.12GamalAbdelNasserwasthesecondPresidentofEgyptandhehadlittle
regardfortherightsofhiscitizensdemonstratedbyhismonitoringoftechnology.Ifleadership
inEgypthastheabilitytocontrolwhatthepeoplesee,thepeoplewillbecomeblindedfromwhat
isactuallyhappening.
Unfortunately,peoplehavedonelittletoimprovetheseconditions.TheInternational
FederationforHumanRightssaid,Egypthasseenanincreasinglyhostileenvironmentto
freedomofexpressionandassemblyoverthepastthreemonths13Peopleareawarethattheir
rightsarebeingviolated,butthereislittletheycandotoregaintheirrights.Thegovernmentis
successfullyshuttingdownanyattempttoexpressanopinionthatisunfavorabletothe
government.Furthermore,Morerecentstudieshavefocusedonrightsandfreedomsaccorded
(ornotaccorded)religiousminorities,andonChristianmissionsengagedinproselytization,an
activitylongcontroversialandnowalsostimulatingdebateabouttheextenttowhichhuman
rightscanindeedbeconsidereduniversal.14WhilethemajorityofEgyptianstodayare

12

"Egypt."FreeSpeechandFreePressAroundtheWorld.2015.AccessedMarch29,2016.
https://freespeechfreepress.wordpress.com/egypt/
.
13

Reportersstandfortheirrights."
CapeTimes
[SouthAfrica]3Nov.2014:2.
GlobalIssuesInContext
.AccessedMarch28,2016
14

STUART,JOHN."Empire,Mission,Ecumenism,andHumanRights:"ReligiousLiberty"inEgypt,19191956."
ChurchHistory
83,
no.1(March2014):110.
MasterFILEPremier,
EBSCO
host
(accessedMarch29,2016).

Gould5

Muslim,thereisabouttenpercentwhoareChristian.15 ChristiansaretargetedinEgyptfortheir
beliefs.Egyptdoesnotwillinglyacceptreligiousminoritiesintotheirculture,creating
controversy.16Thetworeligionshavedifferentfoundersandbooks,sotheyhavecontrasting
beliefs,suchastheirideaofGod.17 ExecutivedirectoroftheEgyptianCommissionforRights
andFreedomsMohamedLotfysaid,Wearelivingthroughtheworststateforpressfreedom
andfreedomofexpressioninthiscurrentperiod.18 Hesaidthisin2015.19 Thismeansthat
Egyptsviolationoffreedomofexpressionisanongoing,fairlyrecentissue.Ithasyettobe
resolved.Also,the,FIDHconsidersthatreferringjournaliststomilitarytribunalsand
condemningthemtoheavysentencessetsadangerousprecedentandwilleventuallyprevent
journalistsfromreportingindependentlyinsensitiveareasinvolvingthemilitary20
EspeciallyinAfricaandtheMiddleEast,thisrightisalmostnonexistent.Forexample,Inthe
DemocraticRepublicoftheCongo,thegovernmentattacksandthreatenshumanrightsdefenders
andrestrictsfreedomofexpressionandassociation.In2007,provisionsofthe2004PressAct
wereusedbythegovernmenttocensornewspapersandlimitfreedomofexpression.21Thisis
similartowhatishappeninginEgypt.Bothplacesarelocatedonthesamecontinent,andthe
governmentsarebothnotgrantingtotalaccesstofreedomofexpression.
III.

ModernDayResponsessince1948

15

"HowManyChristiansAreThereinEgypt?"PewResearchCenterRSS.2011.AccessedApril05,2016.
http://www.pewresearch.org/2011/02/16/howmanychristiansarethereinegypt/
.
16

Ibid
17

"WorldwideConflict.":WhyIslamandtheChristianFaithClash.AccessedApril28,2016.
http://allanturner.com/magazine/archives/rm1105/Blackaby004.html.
18

AbdelKouddous,Sharif."TreatedLikeEnemies."

Ibid
"Reportersstandfortheirrights."
CapeTimes
[SouthAfrica]3Nov.2014:2.
GlobalIssuesInContext.
AccessedMarch28,2016
21

"HumanRightsViolations."
UnitedForHumanRights.
2008.Web.5Apr.2016.
<http://www.humanrights.com/whatarehumanrights/violationsofhumanrights/expression.html>.
19
20

Gould6

Egypthasphysicallyregulatedexpression,butalsovirtually.However,onecountryis
tryingtodosomethingtohelp.America,...StoodbehindEgyptinitsbattleagainstterrorismbut
addingthatfreedomofspeech,assembly,andpeacefulpoliticaldissentmustbeallowedifEgypt
istosuccessfullycombatextremism.22ThisshowsthattheUnitedStatescaresaboutthehuman
rights.Americaisproudlyknownasthelandofthefree,andAmericaistryingtohelpEgypt
bygivingthemadviceonhowtoachievefreedom.
WhilesomepeopleinAmericaaretryingtohelp,manypeoplearemakingmattersin
Egyptworse.WhenawomaninAmericawastoldshecouldnotwearaniqab,Manyprofessors
ledthefightagainsttheniqabasapedagogicalissue.23Theyclaimedthatjustbecausethey
couldnotseeherface,itwasdistracting.24Partoffreedomofexpressionisclothingbecause
peoplewearclothesthattheyfeelcomfortablebeingseenin,andoftenclothesareusedto
expressapersonsindividualitysuchaswearingajerseytosupportasportsteam.Moreover,a
niqabisareligioustradition,sonotallowingsomeonetowearonelimitstheirfreedomtocarry
outtheirreligiouspractices.IfpeopleinAmericaarerestrictingwhatsomeonecanwear,likea
niqab,EgyptwillnottaketheUnitedStatesseriouslywhentheytellthemthattheycannotdo
that.
Additionally,TheIndianconstitutionguaranteesfreedomofreligion,butfiveIndian
stateshaveanticonversionlaws,outlawingproselytismbycoercionorbribery.25Egyptisnot
theonlycountrythatmakesfalsepromisesaboutfreedomofexpression.Indianstatesarenot
allowingpeopletoconverttoadifferentreligion,andpeoplearenotallowedtotrytoconvince

22
23

AbdelKouddous,Sharif."TreatedLikeEnemies."

Krieger,Zvika."EgyptianCourtOverrulesAmericanUniversityinCairo'sLimitsonReligiousGarb."
ChronicleOfHigher
Education
53,no.42(June22,2007):A42.
MasterFILEPremier,
EBSCO
host
(accessedMarch28,2016).
24
Ibid
25

Proselytization."TheAmericanInterestProselytizationComments.2014.AccessedMarch29,2016.
http://www.theamericaninterest.com/2014/12/24/proselytization/.

Gould7

someonetoconvert,yettheyclaimtheyguaranteefreedomofexpression.Freedomofreligion
impliesthatyoucanbelievewhatyouwant,wheneveryouwantto,sobybanningproselytism,
Indiaisrestrictingreligiousfreedomaswell.
Finally,inTunisia,RapperWeldEl15wasrecentlysentencedinabsentia[(whenhe
wastried,hewasnotphysicallypresent)]totwoyearsinprisonforinsultingthepolice.26 Part
offreedomofexpressionisbeingabletoexpressyouropinions.Thisdoesnotexcludemusic.
Artistsshouldbeallowedtoexpresstheiropinionsinsongs,evenifthegovernmentdoesnot
agreewithwhattheyaresayingbecauseitisaformofselfexpression.Unfortunately,inTunisia,
thisisnotthecase.BothEgyptandTunisiaarerestrictingtheircitizensrighttofreedomof
expressionbylimitingwhattheycansay.
IV.

Conclusion:EvaluationandRecommendations
Inconclusion,therighttofreedomofexpressionbytheUnitedforHumanRightsstates

that,Everyonehastherighttofreedomofopinionandexpressionthisrightincludesfreedomto
holdopinionswithoutinterferenceandtoseek,receiveandimpartinformationandideasthrough
anymediaandregardlessoffrontiers.27TheEgyptiangovernmentvotedinfavorofthe
declaration,yettheEgyptiangovernmentisnotgrantingtheircitizensalloftherightslistedin
thisdefinition,especiallydealingwiththeabilitytoexpressopinionswithoutinterference.In
ordertoprotectthisright,Egypt,first,needsaleaderthatiswillingtoenforceitbyceasingthe

26

PostArabSpringCensorshipontheRise|MiddleEast|DW.COM|07.04.2013."DW.COM.AccessedMarch29,2016.
http://www.dw.com/en/postarabspringcensorshipontherise/a16725701
.

27

Declaratio
nofHumanRights,FreedomofExpression,Videos:UnitedforHumanRights."DeclarationofHumanRights,Freedom
ofExpression,Videos:UnitedforHumanRights.AccessedMarch25,2016.
http://www.humanrights.com/whatarehumanrights/videos/freedomofexpression.html
.

Gould8

limitationofwhatthepressisallowedtorelease,notdiscriminatingagainstminorities,andallow
proteststooccurpeacefully.
Tobegin,Egyptcontrolswhattheirpeoplecanandcantsee,citizenswillnotknowthe
truthofwhatisgoingoninthecountry.Bylimitingwhatisreleased,itformsadistrustbetween
thepeopleandthegovernment.Thepeoplehavetherighttoknowwhatthetruthaboutcurrent
eventsintheircountry.However,inorderforthegovernmenttorealizetheircitizenshavearight
toknowwhatisoccurringintheircountry,morepeoplemustapproachthegovernmentwiththis
issuebywritingtothegovernmentorattendingconferenceswheretheycanvoicetheiropinion.
Thesepeoplecaneitherbelocalorhalfwayaroundtheworld,butifenoughattentionisdrawnto
theissue,thegovernmentwillhavenochoicebuttoenforceit.Implementingthischangein
attitudetowardcensorshipwillallowthepeopleinEgypttoaccessaccurateinformationabout
currenteventsregardingtheircountry.
Second,thegovernmentneedstostopdiscriminatingagainstminorities,especially
Christians.28Freedomofexpressionincludestherighttobelievewhateveryouwant.More
specifically,itgrantsfreedomofreligion.Ifthegovernmenttargetspeoplebasedontheir
religion,peopledonotfeelsecureexpressingtheirbeliefs.Inordertocreateatolerant
environmentforallbeliefs,everyoneinthecountryneedstoacceptpeoplebelievedifferent
things.Throughouthistory,manydifferentgroupsofpeoplehavebeentargetedbecauseoftheir
religionaroundtheworld.Theonlysolutionstograntreligiousfreedominthepasthave
involvedpeoplerealizingthatweareallhuman,andyoucannotforcesomeonetothinklikeyou.
IfEgyptiancitizensbecomemoretolerantofcontrastingbeliefs,itwillcreateasafespaceforall

28

STUART,JOHN."Empire,Mission,Ecumenism,andHumanRights:"ReligiousLiberty"inEgypt,19191956."

Gould9

religions,especiallyminoritiesbecausepeoplewillnotsegregatebasedoffofbeliefs,creatinga
moreunifiedcountry.
Finally,Egyptneedstocreateamorepeacefulprotestingenvironment.Egyptianprotests
areoftenveryviolentandendwithpeoplebeingarrestedforexpressingtheirthoughtsand
beliefs.IfpeopleinEgyptaretotrulyhavefullfreedomtoexpresswhatevertheywant,they
cannotbepunishedforspeakingup.Moreover,ifpeoplefeelsafeexpressingtheiropinions,
morepeoplewilldoso.Inordertocreatethisutopia,thegovernmentmustnotpunishpeoplefor
verbalizingtheirbeliefs.Topreventthisrightfrombeingdiminished,Egyptneedstopassalaw
thatdeclinestherightofpolicetoinhibitsomeonesopinionataprotest.Passingalawthatdoes
notallowpolicetousetheirenforcementsagainstaprotesterisreasonableaslongastheprotest
ispeaceful.Iknowthatnotallofthesesolutionswillnotbeabletobeimplementedquickly,but
ifatleastoneisbeingfoughtfor,itwillopendoorstocreateamoreprosperousEgypt.

Gould10

WorksCited:
"Egypt:AYearofAttacksonFreeExpression."HumanRightsWatch.2012.AccessedMarch25,2016.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/02/11/egyptyearattacksfreeexpression.
EgyptianWriterCaughtupinGovernment'sExpandingCrackdown."WashingtonPost.AccessedMarch29,2016.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egyptianwritercaughtupingovernmentsexpandingcrackdown/2016/02/
02/9277f8c4c5f411e5b93331c93021392a_story.html?tid=a_inl
.
Ali,AyaanHirsi."THERISEOFCHRISTOPHOBIA.(coverstory)."
Newsweek
159,no.7(February13,2012):28.
MasterFILEPremier
,EBSCO
host
(accessedMarch25,2016).
"Egypt."FreedomHouse|.AccessedApril27,2016.
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedomworld/2014/egypt
.
AbdelKouddous,Sharif."TreatedLikeEnemies."
Progressive
79,no.11(November2015):20.
MasterFILE
YoungPeopleLedEgypt'sRevolution,buttheOldGuardStillRules."WashingtonPost.AccessedApril06,2016.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/youngpeopleledegyptsrevolutionbuttheoldguardstillrules/2014/04/2
0/db2de62657424125be4e9d81ead543d0_story.html
.
Egypt'sPlanforMassSurveillanceofSocialMediaanAttackonInternetPrivacyandFreedomofExpression."Egypt's
PlanforMassSurveillanceofSocialMediaanAttackonInternetPrivacyandFreedomofExpression.AccessedMarch25,2016.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2014/06/egyptsattackinternetprivacytightensnoosefreedomexpression/
.
"Egypt."FreeSpeechandFreePressAroundtheWorld.2015.AccessedMarch29,2016.
https://freespeechfreepress.wordpress.com/egypt/
.
Reportersstandfortheirrights."
CapeTimes
[SouthAfrica]3Nov.2014:2.
GlobalIssuesInContext
.AccessedMarch
28,2016
STUART,JOHN."Empire,Mission,Ecumenism,andHumanRights:"ReligiousLiberty"inEgypt,19191956."
ChurchHistory
83,no.1(March2014):110.
MasterFILEPremier
,EBSCO
host
(accessedMarch29,2016).
"HowManyChristiansAreThereinEgypt?"PewResearchCenterRSS.2011.AccessedApril05,2016.
http://www.pewresearch.org/2011/02/16/howmanychristiansarethereinegypt/
.
"Reportersstandfortheirrights."
CapeTimes
[SouthAfrica]3Nov.2014:2.
GlobalIssuesInContext
.Accessed
March28,2016
"HumanRightsViolations."
UnitedForHumanRights
.2008.Web.5Apr.2016.
<http://www.humanrights.com/whatarehumanrights/violationsofhumanrights/expression.html>.
Krieger,Zvika."EgyptianCourtOverrulesAmericanUniversityinCairo'sLimitsonReligiousGarb."
ChronicleOf
HigherEducation
53,no.42(June22,2007):A42.
MasterFILEPremier
,EBSCO
host
(accessedMarch28,2016).
Proselytization."TheAmericanInterestProselytizationComments.2014.AccessedMarch29,2016.
http://www.theamericaninterest.com/2014/12/24/proselytization/
.
PostArabSpringCensorshipontheRise|MiddleEast|DW.COM|07.04.2013."DW.COM.AccessedMarch29,
2016.
http://www.dw.com/en/postarabspringcensorshipontherise/a16725701
.
Egypt."FreeSpeechandFreePressAroundtheWorld.2015.AccessedMarch25,2016.
https://freespeechfreepress.wordpress.com/egypt/
.
DeclarationofHumanRights,FreedomofExpression,Videos:UnitedforHumanRights."DeclarationofHuman
Rights,FreedomofExpression,Videos:UnitedforHumanRights.AccessedMarch25,2016.
http://www.humanrights.com/whatarehumanrights/videos/freedomofexpression.html
.
"WorldwideConflict.":WhyIslamandtheChristianFaithClash.AccessedApril28,2016.
http://allanturner.com/magazine/archives/rm1105/Blackaby004.html.

Gould11