Solidarity and admiration for Egyptian journalists

by Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
February 5, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/498/solidarity-and-admiration-for-egyptian-journalists

Editor-in-chief of Egyptian newspaper Al-Demokratiya, Ms. Hala Mustafa and editor of another Egyptian newspaper October, Mr. Hussein Serag are facing undue criticism and challenges by Egyptian Journalist Union, for advocating normalization of relations with Israel.

Hala Mustafa, editor-in-chief of state-run weekly Al-Demoqratiya magazine, created a huge media controversy in September 2009 after receiving Israeli envoy Shalom Cohen at her home. Ms Mustafa went on to further shock the Journalists Union by saying she doesn't believe a boycott of Israel helps the Palestinians – and she does not think unions should impose Israel boycotts.

Anti Semitic elements inside the Egyptian Journalist Union [EJU] sent Ms. Hala Mustafa, a letter of protest for inviting the Israeli ambassador, although, earlier EJU decided to expel this high-profile editor of the country.

In a response to question by a Western news agency, on what action Ms. Hala Mustafa would be taking against such illogical actions by EJU, she said that she will go to court to defend her views, and her right to speak to whoever she wants.

Ms Mustafa is reported as claiming the union's ruling undermines freedom of the press, and she told a news agency that she "totally" rejected the warning and may seek legal redress for what she said was a "moral injury."

"It goes against freedom of expression … which the union should protect," she said.

Ms Mustafa was accused of violating a 1984 journalist union resolution that effectively bans members from meeting with Israeli officials or taking any other steps towards normalizing relations.

Hala Mustafa has repeatedly urged that the 1984 resolution banning journalists from meeting with Israelis be revoked.

"This resolution was adopted almost 25 years ago. It is high time that it is annulled in favor of encouraging dialogue with the Israelis," Ms Mustafa said.

Egypt became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979 but relations have remained on a mostly governmental level, and cultural exchanges and travel to Israel are discouraged by the Egyptian government.

The Journalists Union issued its ban on contacts with Israel in 1985. Mustafa is a senior member of President Hosni Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party. She is also an expert on Islamic militancy and a reform advocate. She had in the past called the ban "obsolete" and out of sync with political developments in the region. She told the news agency AP that the reprimand reflected what the heavy-handedness and the meddling in politics of security agencies, as well as the country's "ambiguous" policy toward Israel.

Meanwhile Hussain Serag, deputy editor of October magazine, an Arab political and cultural weekly, was suspended by the union's disciplinary committee for three months.

Mr. Serag is the magazine's expert on Jewish affairs. He has translated books from Hebrew to Arabic, the latest was "Between Tel Aviv and Cairo," a memoir by Israel's former ambassador to Egypt David Sultan. He said all his visits to Israel were approved by the October magazine and security officials.

"My field of specialty is Israel and Hebrew. If I don't visit Israel how can I understand these people?" Serag said. "This is hypocrisy, pure and simple."

Under Egyptian law Mr. Serag cannot work as a journalist while he is suspended from membership of his union.

The Egyptian Actors' Union [EAU], like the Egyptian journalists' union, has a long-standing ban on members having anything to do with their Israeli counterparts. Soon after the Journalists' Union attacked Ms. Hala Mustafa for her meeting with an Israeli diplomat another prominent female union member came under attack, the Middle East superstar Ms. Hend Sabry .

Hend Sabry is a Tunisian superstar who has played starring roles in many of the most loved Arab films of the past decade. She lives in Egypt and is a Goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.

Hend Sabry is not the first actor to come under threats by the Egyptian actor's guild.

Two years ago, Amr Waked – a prominent international Egyptian actor who came to fame after his role alongside George Clooney in Syriana – also came under attack for his role in the BBC miniseries "The House of Saddam."

Amr Waked acted alongside an Israeli actor in the film. Ironically, the Israeli was of Iraqi origins and was playing the role of the late dictator.

Outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Egypt, Shalom Cohen told Galei Tzahal [Army Radio] that despite the treaties existing between Israel and Egypt, there were numerous threats against his life during his tenure.

He added that despite diplomatic relations, the Egyptian media remains hostile to the Israeli diplomatic entourage and state officials in Israel must act to compel a change.

I failed to find the exact word of outrage on EUJ and Egyptian Actors Union on their very nasty and rude attitude towards those esteemed members of press and entertainment world.

Hussein Serag and Hala Mustafa deserve my fullest support and admiration for such bold stand in favor of global peace and for their courage in rejecting the dirty desire of the rogue radicals.

Being an editor of a newspaper in a Muslim nation facing sedition, treason and blasphemy charges for confronting militant Islam and for advocating relations between Bangladesh and Israel, I fully understand the situation and the gravity of threat any individual would bear, when he or she will speak in favor of the Jewish state.

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