“3 things I always keep my eyes on: my consience in front of God, my duty towards my country, and my commitment towards my job's values. All of these are forcing me to publish my first announcement ever to whomever it may concern after a journalism procession that is approaching 20 years with recognition to who trusted me and self-respected me. The last 9 months from this cycle has a place in my heart after an astounding and beautiful revolution in our country, where many of us feels that it isn't wanted to stay this way. It's not a secret that a big part of the pre-revolution mentality is still imposed on us with the same picture it was, if not worse. “Not because of this do people give their souls, eyes, and limbs for the country's redemption and a life's dignity, so the honorable must take a stand. My stand as a civilian who fears for his country is endless, but my stand today as a media presenter is calling me to view a deterioration in the freedom of media's occupation in return to an intended ignorance of dilapidated “media.” “This deterioration and this ignorance grows from a conception by the one handling it that the media can refute an existing reality or create a reality that's not there. This is the real problem and this is the bigger picture that I don't want to be a part of. “Although I recognize the fact that all parties in Egypt post jan25 was, and still is, passing through a rich stage of education overwhelming us with optimism sometimes, and striking us with pessimism the other times, another truth has been shown clearly day by day in the past couple of months which makes us feel that there are gruesome attempts for the core of the regime to stay, the regime's people left their houses to topple after it has filled the land with corruption, exploitation and immorality. “Such attempts have taken many procedures, some inherited and some created, yet all were aiming recently to put pressure, directly and indirectly, on whomever still believes in the revolution's noble aspirations with both respect to people and themselves, just to force them to volunteer in enforcing self-censorship on what shouldn't be hidden or beautified. “I was, and always will be, proud of ONtv (a TV channel) and what its youth were able to come up with in the most difficult times, like I was, and always will be proud of every free and bold Egyptian voice that isn't afraid to admit whoever was wrong to achieve its right, and Egypt is full of such free people. “However, I don't find myself in what they call finding another way, I find within myself a lot of reasons that invite me to suspend the “Last Word” program for an indefinite period. This is my way of self censorship: to say what's best or just stay silent. This is a scream from the heart with the love of a country as a motive and God's face as a desire, and between the intention and desire a deep belief that Egypt deserves better than this.” -Yosri Fouda, Cairo 21/10/2011 A courageous message sent from Yosri Fouda to every Egyptian who still calls and will never stop believing in freedom of speech and expression. Fouda, a prominent journalist who used to work for both BBC and Al Jazeera, was due to host controversial writer Alaa al-Aswany to give some sort of commentary on the #SCAFshow episode (or the liars episode as it is referred to) hosted by Mona al-Shazly and Ibrahim Eissa. People were awaiting such a remarkable episode, especially after the dishonest #SCAF Generals' appearance, but speculations that #SCAF were actually faster than Yosri and his guests were inevitable. Fouda, an influential journalist who has always tried to follow “clean journalism and media” rules, refused to forge reality and chose to halt his show rather than continue in the resurrection of the old regime's values. This is not the first time this happens with Yosri Fouda and Akher Kalam's crew as he was due to host an Army General in May, yet the episode was cancelled by the Moral Affairs Department of #SCAF, who asked for the script and issues to be discussed in the episode beforehand. Such acts acted upon by the #SCAF after the revolution had the viewers foreshadowing Dina Abdel Rahman (TV presenter sacked by Dream TV for questioning the claims of an ex-Air Force army general against presidential candidates) and Reem Maged's (Fouda's colleague on @Ontveg who was once summoned by military prosecution) incidents. @ririvanhelsing and many others announced their support for @YosriFouda and every honorable media presenter who chooses to say what's fair or just shut up. However some people argued that by quitting, @YosriFouda would prove to the #SCAF that their attempts have eventually worked through the censoring of media as their weapon. @Lawrence_wright, a writer for The New Yorker, tweeted: “A worrisome sign as the best reporter #YosriFouda in the Arab world halts his TV show in Egypt because of censorship.” Such interference in the media by the unspecialized made people wonder whether the revolution is leading the country forward after all. Questions like: “When will #Mubarak be back? Please let us know” was revolving around the web as a sarcastic way to express the outrage over the military's intervention in many topics. In an attempt to save freedom of speech in #Egypt, @belalfadl, a famous writer, and many activists like @alaa decided to launch an online channel that would go with the name #ElSha3bYoreedTV (The People Demand, a reminder of the famous chant rocking #Tahrir Square at one time). #MaikelNabil, #SCAF‘s scapegoat? With a provocative decision, the military court decided to transfer #MaikelNabil to Khanka's psychiatric hospital to check on his mental state and therefore responsibility on his acts and writings. #MaikelNabil is to be tried again on November 1. This will be his 70th day for his hunger strike. Maikel's supporters rather called it an execution order that the judges chose to kill Maikel Nabil slowly. Ironically, #MaikelNabil‘s case has reached the media worldwide, yet Egyptian media, and #maspero in particular, chooses to ignore it and some actually should be awarded Oscars for adorning the #SCAF‘s image to people. Egyptians, freedom of speech and freedom of thought tend to coexist, if one falls, you'll be vulnerable to lose the second, and only then will we be forced to bow on the ground to a new master. ** Menna Alaa can be found on Twitter: @TheMiinz BM
