Parl't speaker denounces assault on reporters in Pharmacists Syndicate

CAIRO –23 December 2018: Egyptian Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal affirmed on Saturday the necessity to ensure the freedom of press and media during performing their work.

Abdel Aal expressed his complete rejection of assaulting a number of journalists from three different newspapers last weekinside the Egyptian Pharmacists Syndicate, affirming that freedom of opinion is a fundamental human right.

Abdel Aal's remarks came after renowned journalist MoustafaBakri, a member of the Parliament, submitted an urgent interpellation to the minister of health about the incident.

Medical Syndicates Union member EhabHeikal announced suspending his participation in the meetings of the union in light of the recent assaults on the journalists inside the Pharmacists Syndicate headquarters, which is one of the syndicates included in the Medical Syndicates Union.

The incident took place on Monday when security personnel at the Egyptian Pharmacists Syndicate assaulted four journalists and took their phones, including Mohamed el-Garnoussi and AtefBadr from Al-Masry al-Yom, EsraaSoliman from Al-Watan and AyaDe'bes from Youm7. A security guard of the syndicate was subsequently arrested and detained for four days pending investigation.

The Press Syndicate denounced the assault of four journalists and the detention of 15 others inside the Pharmacists Syndicate while covering the syndicate's election. The Press Syndicate referred that the attack was carried out by the security guard of MohieEbeid, head of the Pharmacists Syndicate.

It also announced in a statement on Monday, following the incident, that it would file complaints to General Prosecutor Nabil Sadek against Ebeid, saying that the attacks that caused injuries in the body, face and eyes of the journalists will not pass unpunished.

In response to the wave of criticism and journalists' angry writings,Ebeid issued a demand to General Prosecutor Sadek asking for a publication ban in the issue.