CAIRO - Some political powers, activists and presidential candidates have condemned the Egyptian authorities' raid on a satellite channel office in Cairo, on the pretext that it does not have a licence, slamming the move as an 'attack on freedom of expression'. "We, the Egyptian political parties believing in the freedom of expression, a main aim of the revolution, condemn the raid on Al-Jazeera Live Egypt channel. This is a bid to shut the mouths of Egyptians," read a statement by political parties taking part in a forum in el-Sawy Culture Centre. The parties, spearheaded by Al-Wafd, Freedom and Justice, Al-Ghad, the Democratic Front, Al-Adl and Egypt Freedom, added that the decision not to issue licences for more satellite TV channels is another tool for limiting freedom of expression. The satellite channel Al-Jazeera Egypt said on Sunday that the authorities had prevented it from broadcasting, after entering its offices and confiscating transmission equipment. Ahmed Zein, the channel's chief in Cairo, said that police, officials from the Culture Ministry and representatives of Egypt's State-run Radio and TV Union had also seized materials and that one technician was arrested. He said they cited the lack of an official licence to broadcast and a complaint from the neighbourhood. He said a lawyer also presented a complaint, accusing the channel of "sowing dissent" and "calling for demonstrations". Osama Heikal, Egypt's Minister of Information, said the closure of Al-Jazeera Egypt was not related to the content it broadcasts. "Al-Jazeera Egypt violated the Egyptian laws that require getting a licence. The new channel should have respected the laws," said Heikal, adding that there are around 200 other foreign channels working in Egypt, with offices here. Heikal said last Wednesday that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the Cabinet had decided to temporarily suspend the issuing of new permits to satellite channels and to prosecute any channel deemed to be threatening the stability of the country. Egyptian activist groups say the decision is a regressive step, taking the country back to the oppressive Mubarak regime. Al-Jazeera Egypt lawyer Islam Lotfi said suspending the channel was a "foolish political decision". Mohamed Selim el-Awa, a potential presidential candidate, called on the authorities to allow Al-Jazeera Egypt back on air in Cairo. "Al-Jazeera helped the Egyptian revolution. It is not nice to take it off air and raid its office," el-Awa said, calling on the authorities to apologise for the raid. The Human Rights Committee affiliated to the Bar Association has also condemned the raid and the decision to shut down Al-Jazeera's office. "The purpose of this decision is to block freedom and restore dictatorship," read a statement from the committee.
