I was not surprised by the historic ruling of the Administrative Court yesterday to revoke the decision of the Central Auditing Organization (CAO) to control independent newspapers. I indeed felt a sense of profound respect for the fair Egyptian judiciary. Why? Because the whereases of the ruling did not only revoke this decision and refer Article 33 of the press law to the Supreme Constitutional Court, but were indeed a victory for freedom of the press. The whereases say: "Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution and the consequential freedom of the press cannot be restricted by any constraints or sanctions. Facts can not be hidden. Freedom of expression is the basis of every democratic system and neglecting it simply means denying the fact that freedom of expression cannot be deprived of its tools and that the ways to exercise this freedom must be linked to its goals. This freedom can not be hindered by anyone through laws or decisions. As freedom of the press is one of the most important manifestations of freedom of expression and opinion, what most threatens it is to believe in it superficially." These words fit a modern method for the authorities to deal with the media and are a significant lesson for those who believe that free press can be played and threatened by the government. The court has said it out loud. Who will understand this lesson? How long will the government keep on looking at good press as a fierce enemy of the country or as an agent of all evil forces in the universe? When will powerful and influential people realize that freedom of the press is the real shield to face these dangers and the only guarantee to achieve reforms and development? I know no one in power will try to answer these questions. I also know that the words of the Administrative Court are like a stab in the hearts of those who lie in ambush against independent press in Egypt, incite against it every morning and dig a pit for it every evening. Shut down the newspapers that embody the suffering of the Egyptian people and muzzle vile journalists. The journalists who are not loyal to the regime are not Egyptian; they are agents; hang them and send them to jail. These were not only violent stabs, but a serious blow dealt to those who thought of being able to suffocate the freedom of the press. This ruling opens a file that the government insists on closing. The CAO, which wanted to impose its control on independent newspapers, is the same organization storing the violations of national newspapers. The journalists inciting against independent newspapers are also those who waste people's money. Reports are issued only to be put inside a drawer and so wasting goes on and so does incitement against freedom of the press. Meanwhile, no one intervenes. Let me praise the fair judiciary and let me call on the government one more time to hold everyone accountable and announce the losses and violations of national newspapers. And if they are acquitted by the judiciary, shut down independent newspapers and send us all to jail for the sake of newspapers which sell no more copies than the number of their editors.
