In a relatively low-key affair, the photojournalists' division at the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate conducted its second-term elections on Saturday. Hossam Diab, photo editor for independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm and the state-run Al-Ahram Al-Riady magazine, was elected head of the photojournalists' division, while Associated Press photographer Amr Nabil was elected deputy head. Both races were uncontested. The syndicate's photojournalists assembled at 4 PM to cast their votes. While turnout was low, the occasion was marked by optimism on the part of participants. While awaiting vote results, a number of photographers took time to cover--and participate in--a pro-Palestinian demonstration being held on the syndicate's front steps, the chants and slogans of which echoed through the building. Results were announced at 6:30 PM by Alaa Thabet, supervisor of the syndicate's culture committee. Of the 51 members of the photojournalists' division, 30 cast ballots. Positions were awarded to Al-Shorouq's Magdy Ibrahim, who received 27 votes; Al-Ahram's Khaled el-Fiqi, who received 25 votes; and Al-Masry Al-Youm's Mohamed Marouf, who likewise received 25 votes. Winning candidates will be tasked with governing the division's secretariat, treasury and committees. In a brief statement, Diab expressed his appreciation of candidates' "energy and zeal," noting that the upcoming term--which will witness presidential, parliamentary and Shura Council elections--would be a challenging one for photojournalists, who customarily face obstruction by State Security forces. The syndicate's photojournalists' division was established in December 2007.
