Dozens of journalists protested in front of their syndicate building in downtown Cairo on Wednesday against continued censorship by the ruling military council. They called on reporters to strike on 1 November to protest "violations of freedom of expression." Three columnists for the independent newspaper Al-Tahrir are also protesting against censorship by publishing blank columns. A group named "No to Military Censorship of Journalism" called for other papers to also publish blank columns after the government confiscated two editions of Rose al-Youssef and Sawt al-Omma and ordered their editorial content be changed. The General Authority for Investment on Tuesday issued warnings to private satellite channels OnTV and Dream TV over what it said were violations of their operating licenses. Activists circulated news on social networking sites the same day that the investment authority had also ordered satellite channels not to criticize the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) on live shows. Protesters distributed a statement Wednesday saying the existence of a military censor is a crime against journalism. Journalists feel that the procedures adopted by the SCAF constitute a major setback to freedom in Egypt, the statement added. The SCAF is depriving readers of their constitutional right to receive and follow incidents in their country, the statement read, saying the military's use of censorship represents a reversion to Mubarak-style "terrorism."
