Mick Hartley

After the recent jail sentences imposed on some Egyptian opposition press editors, it’s breathtaking – not to say Orwellian – to read what President Mubarak has to say on the question of press freedom:

In a telephone interview on press freedom, Mubarak told the editor of the Egyptian weekly Al-Usbu’ Moustafa Bakri: “My belief in freedom of the press will never be undermined, and neither will my efforts to expand this freedom be affected by a few violations of journalistic and professional values, of the journalist’s code of honor, and of the rules of the Journalists Association. My belief [in freedom of the press] becomes stronger by the day, despite the upswing in errors and in the violation [of such norms]. My belief in freedom of the press is manifest in [my] protection of it, and in [my] objections to any interference in journalistic affairs by elements from within or from without.

“Therefore, I want you, and all journalists and columnists, to rest assured that this freedom will never be curtailed, and that we will never revert to the era of censorship and of limitation of freedoms. There is a law which must be obeyed, [and which states that] anyone who violates the journalistic code of honor or threatens the country’s peace must stand trial. However, this freedom is protected by law and by the constitution. It is here to stay. It is an asset that belongs to the Egyptian people, and not a gift that the ruler may bestow upon them or take back at whim.

“I have nothing against the freedom of criticism. Constructive criticism is a societal need, and its function is to inform the decision maker of society’s shortcomings. However, there is a difference between constructive criticism, whose object is to promote the good of society, and harmful criticism, which seeks to destroy its achievements and to undermine its values and principles… [Destructive criticism] is not really criticism. It is the exploitation of press freedom in a way that serves other elements that [threaten] society’s security and stability…

“I say to all my sons in the field of journalism: Everyone must understand that any freedom entails obligation and responsibility… No society would agree that a few columnists should become tools for incitement to anarchy, and that freedom should be exploited in a negative manner, which runs against its [true] objectives and aims… I do not distinguish between government newspapers, party newspapers and independent newspapers. All are Egyptian and all are national – which is why I make a point of monitoring them all…”

It rather reminds me of all those commentators who justified not publishing the Danish cartoons on the grounds that freedom of speech is all very well, but it doesn’t justify the giving of offence…