Cairo, 7^th of October 2008
 

ACIJLP praises the presidential pardon of Ibrahim Issa and considers this as a step towards the protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
that should be supplemented by issuing legislation prohibits imprisonment in publication cases
 

The Arab Center for Independence of the judiciary and the legal profession (ACIJLP) welcomes the presidential pardon of the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, pardons the Egyptian journalist “Ibrahim Issa”, editor-in-chief of Al-Dustour newspaper, from the decision issued by “Bulaq al-Aboul Ela” Court of first instance on September 28th 2008 against the journalist “Ibrahim Issa” that sentenced him for two months imprisonment.

ACIJLP believes that this presidential pardon represents a positive step to protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression mentioned in the Constitution and the international covenants, in particular article 47, which states that: "Freedom of opinion is guaranteed. Everyone has the right to express his opinion verbally, in writing, in photographing or by other means of expression within the law. Furthermore, self-criticism and constructive criticism are guarantee of the safety of national reconstruction. As well as Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by the Egyptian government on January 14^th 1982 and entered into force and published in the Official Gazette on April 15^th of the same year. In addition, to Article (19) which states that: "(1) Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference. (2) Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression. This right includes freedom to seek different forms of information and ideas, receive and impart to others regardless of frontiers, wither in written form, in print, in the form of art or by any means he choose...).

While the Center commends the decision of the presidential pardon; as it is a step towards the protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, it felt that such a step should be followed by another step to entrench the right, through the issuance of  a presidential decision by the President of Arab Republic of Egypt which abolishing the imprisonment of journalists in cases involving publishing .

ACIJLP Center also finds that the issuance of a legislation abolishing the imprisonment of journalists in publication cases, by the Egyptian government, will represent a commitment by the Government to meet its international treaty.