Journalists demand apology from presidency, removal of Interior Minister after syndicate raid

Journalists demanded an apology from the presidency during an emergency Journalists Syndicate general assembly meeting on Wednesday, which was called in response to the recent security raid on the syndicate by the Interior Ministry.

The syndicate’s general assembly issued a list of final decisions and demands on Wednesday, including a call for the removal of Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar. The minister's name will not be used by media outlets, which will only use his inverted image, in a first step toward boycotting news issued by the ministry altogether. Additionally, the syndicate will pursue legal measures against the ministry for the security siege on its headquarters.

Security forces stormed the syndicate’s building last Sunday and arrested journalists Amr Badr and Mahmoud al-Sakka, who were staging a sit-in at the syndicate. Journalists have been protesting the siege since Sunday night in an ongoing sit-in on the syndicate steps.

The syndicate also demanded the release of all detained journalists and the issuing of legislation protecting journalists from detention for publishing-related crimes as well as laws criminalizing assaults on the syndicate.

Newspapers will published black front pages next Sunday as per the list of decisions released by the syndicate. The sit-in at the syndicate will continue until Tuesday, when another meeting is scheduled to discuss a general journalists’ strike.

In response to a gag order issued by the Public Prosecutor on Tuesday prohibiting coverage of the raid, media outlets will also publish a banner stating “No to gag orders” on all journalistic websites and publications. The syndicate will challenge the gag order in court.

Security forces closed off Abdel Khalek Tharwat Street — where the syndicate is located — on Wednesday morning, only allowing syndicate members to pass after checking their membership cards. A number of syndicate members faced difficulties accessing the syndicate, while non-syndicate members were not allowed to pass.

Nonetheless, hundreds of journalists succeeded in breaking through the security siege on the syndicate and gathered inside the building on Wednesday.

A number of pro-government supporters were present in close vicinity to the security cordon, chanting in support of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and against the demonstrating journalists. The crowd verbally and physically assaulted journalists outside the syndicate, including journalist Khaled Dawood and Mada Masr reporter Beesan Kassab.

Journalists continued to protest on stairs of the syndicate following the meeting, chanting, “Hold your head up high, you’re a journalist.”