Parliament to pass media law

CAIRO –30 May 2018: During the current session, the Parliament is set to pass a law to regulate media and press, Undersecretary of the Culture and Information Committee of the Parliament, Gamal Fahmy stated.

In press remarks on Tuesday, Fahmy said that the issuance of the law was delayed as some of its articles were re-considered by the Parliament, adding that the proposed law will be presented to the Press Syndicate’s high board for the final approval.

Hatem Zakaria, secretary general of the press syndicate, further disclosed that the syndicate and Supreme Council for Media regulation (SCMR) delivered their comments on the bill to the Parliament, asserting that the legislators ensure their commitment to the Egyptian Constitution, which enshrines the freedom of thought, opinion and expression.

In January 2017, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi issued a law establishing a syndicate for audio-visual media personnel, following the Parliament’s approval. The Media Syndicate is responsible for regulating audio-visual media practices, as well as defending its members.

The Supreme Council for Media Regulations was established on December 24, 2016 after President Sisi issued Law No. 92 of 2016 on the Institutional Organization of the Press and Media as an independent body with a corporate personality.

The role of the council is to regulate and supervise media outlets in all forms: printed, broadcast and electronic; it establishes the framework and standards necessary to ensure that media outlets abide by the rules and ethics of the profession.