Daily News Analysis

Mubarak's teetering regime targets journalists

Crescent International

Rabi' al-Awwal 06, 14322011-02-09

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While clinging to power with the backing of the military and his US-zionist masters, Hosni Mubarak's thuggish regime has targeted journalists. Al Jazeera has been singled out for particularly harsh treatment because its reports have exposed the regime's crimes most clearly. It chief correspondent in Cairo.

Cairo-Crescent-online

February 08, 2011 - 2000 DST

While clinging to power with the backing of the military and his US-zionist masters, Hosni Mubarak's thuggish regime has targeted journalists. Al Jazeera has been singled out for particularly harsh treatment because its reports have exposed the regime's crimes most clearly. It chief correspondent in Cairo, Ayman Mohy el-Din was arrested and held for three days before being released. Five of its correspondents have had their accredition cards canceled and AlJazeera' Cairo Bureau has been shut down.

Wael Ghoneim, Egyptian blogger and activist, who was arrested on January 27,hut86d was released only on February 7. He said he was grabbed by four plainclothes police officers, bundled into a van, blindfolded and taken to a police station. He was repeatedly interrogated and accused of being a "traitor." He said, if he were a traitor, he would not be living in Egypt. He would have left the country and lived in Dubai making himself rich (hinting that that is what regime-aligned businessmen have done) saying, "To hell with the country."

He emphatically denied being a traitor and said he loved Egypt, that is why he was involved in the uprising to get rid of the traitors that have brought the country to such sorry state. Wael Ghoneim also admitted he created the Facebook account for 27-year-old Khalid Sai'd who was beaten to death by the Egyptian police that led to protests throughout the country. The Facebook helped spark the current uprising to demand dignity and respect.

Despite his personal ordeal, Ghoneim said he was not seeking revenge. He said he had much greater things on mind. He refused to be categorized as a hero, saying people in Tahrir Square were the real heroes because they are the one that have kept the uprising going.

Egyptian journalists also carried out a symbolic funeral for journalist Ahmed Mahmoud who was shot dead by the police while covering the protests. Tahrir Square is gradually assuming the look of a tent city. People go to work during the day and come to the square at night with family, including children. The pro-democracy demonstrators have vowed that they are not leaving until Mubarak leaves. The regime is trying to tire the people out but people appear determined to continue and not give up.

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