*News Release* Egypt crisis: Respect freedom of expression, says WACC As political protests continue to escalate in Egypt, the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) is calling on Egyptian authorities to respect freedom of expression and allow its citizens full access to all means of communication, particularly internet and social media. WACC is also condemning violence against journalists covering the demonstrations.
According to media reports, Internet and phone services in the country have been disrupted to stop protesters from expressing their political opinions. "The government shut down the Internet to keep us from telling the world about what’s really happening here," says Sherif Gomaa, a café employee protesting in downtown Cairo, in a report published by Inter Press Service (IPS) <http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54273>. The report was dictated on a landline phone from Cairo to the IPS office in London. And according to the BBC<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12311007>, Internet and phone services - both mobile and landline - have been severely disrupted, although protesters are using proxies to work around the restrictions. “The protests took place despite widespread disruptions to internet and mobile-phone connections from early on Friday. Mobile operator Vodafone Egypt said in a statement: All mobile operators in Egypt have been instructed to suspend services in selected areas. Under Egyptian legislation the authorities have the right to issue such an order and we are obliged to comply with it”, reports the BBC. In a news alert released yesterday, January 27, by International Freedom of Expression Exchange <http://www.ifex.org/egypt/2011/01/27/violence_against_journalists/> (IFEX<http://www.ifex.org/egypt/2011/01/27/violence_against_journalists/> ) <http://www.ifex.org/egypt/2011/01/27/violence_against_journalists/>, plainclothes and uniformed security personnel have beaten at least 10 journalists and detained others. Egyptian authorities have also shut down the websites of two popular independent newspapers and a number of social media sites, says IFEX. WACC General Secretary, *the Rev. Karin Achtelstetter*, said, “In solidarity with members and partners, journalists and the general public, WACC is urging for immediate end of all forms of media censorship and violence against journalists and for an immediate restoration of the right to peaceful expression of opinion.” Achtelstetter underscored communication as fundamental in conflict resolution and emphasized that lack of communication can fuel tense situations. The protests began on Tuesday after an Internet campaign called for a national "Day of Anger" through anti-government protests, reports IFEX, adding that the demonstrations are the largest since the January 1977 bread riots. ____________________ *WACC promotes communication for social change. It believes that communication is a basic human right that defines people's common humanity, strengthens cultures, enables participation, creates community and challenges tyranny and oppression.* *____________________* -- If you do not want to receive any more newsletters, visit this link<http://waccadmin.info/phplist/?p=unsubscribe&uid=e41ed2fe1a364dbd6ce2e69e0eb1aadc> To update your details and preferences, visit this link<http://waccadmin.info/phplist/?p=preferences&uid=e41ed2fe1a364dbd6ce2e69e0eb1aadc> *Join WACC <http://waccglobal.org/en/join.html> – promote communication for social change* --- Si prefiere darse de baja de esta lista, visite this link<http://waccadmin.info/phplist/?p=unsubscribe&uid=e41ed2fe1a364dbd6ce2e69e0eb1aadc> Para poner sus detalles y preferencias al día, visite this link<http://waccadmin.info/phplist/?p=preferences&uid=e41ed2fe1a364dbd6ce2e69e0eb1aadc> *Joignez-vous à la WACC <http://waccglobal.org/fr/adhesion.html> – la communication pour le changement social* powered by phplist <http://www.phplist.com> v 2.10.9, © tincan ltd<http://tincan.co.uk/powered> -- Adv Kamayani Bali Mahabal +919820749204 skype-lawyercumactivist * * *"Nobody is giving up violence. Neither the state nor the Maoists are giving up violence. I am interested in furthering my cause, which is the cause of peace with justice.- DR BINAYAK SEN * *www.binayaksen.net* *PL SIGN ONLINE PETITION: * http://www.petitiononline.com/sen2010/petition.html *JOIN THE FACEBOOK EVENT: ONE MILLION FACES http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179177728772740* *FREE BINAYAK SEN CAMPAIGN VIDEOS* *http://www.youtube.com/user/Kamayaninumerouno#grid/user/B4A70E211712242B* * * * * * * -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "humanrights movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/humanrights-movement?hl=en.
