Project on Middle East Democracy

Project on Middle East Democracy
The POMED Wire


Reactions to Egyptian Crackdown on Al-Jazeera

January 31st, 2011 by Alec

U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley expressed ”concern” at the Egyptian government’s shutdown of Al-Jazeera and the arrest of six of its correspondents on Monday stating: “Egypt must be open and the reporters released” [the reporters have since been released].  Officials from Human Rights Watch have denounced the Egyptian government for its actions and praised Al-Jazeera’s coverage as “invaluable.” Sarah Leah Whitson, Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa director, said that the shutdown, “is a sign of just how desperate the government has become to cut Egyptians off from news, information and communication.”  Egyptian and Saudi media, and some local Egyptian officials, have insinuated or outright accused the network of trying to foment revolution and of having “Islamist vendettas.”


Posted in Egypt, Journalism, Protests |

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