Journalists Syndicate denounces attacks on Egyptian media personnel in Paris

The Journalists Syndicate issued a statement on Wednesday denouncing attacks on several Egyptian media personnel during the course of their coverage of the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris.

These attacks on journalists and media crews have been attributed to angry Egyptian civilians in Paris. The syndicate’s statement mentioned that these verbal and physical attacks took place on Tuesday, but did not mention the number of these incidents, nor did it identify the media personnel who were targeted.

An entourage of journalists – largely mainstream media figures – accompanied President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on his trip to Paris, where he spoke at the COP 21.

Members of this same entourage have also accompanied Sisi on several of his trips abroad, particularly when he visits Europe.

The syndicate’s statement only mentions that “supporters of a certain political faction” were involved in these attacks.

The statement added that this is not the first incident in which journalists have been attacked, as similar violations against media figures took place during their coverage of Sisi’s visit to the United Nations’ General Assembly in New York, and while covering other events in European countries.

In late September, at least three mainstream media figures were verbally and/or physically assaulted by a group of individuals said to be Muslim Brotherhood members or supporters.

Videos posted online show TV anchors Youssef al-Hosseini, Mohamed Sherdy, and Wael al-Ebrashy being harassed, cursed and manhandled by angry Egyptians. These individuals chanted against the media figures: “Sisi’s dogs, here they are.”

Hosseini responded by spitting on his harrassers. In this same video, Sherdy could be seen calling on members of the New York Police Department to intervene, which they appeared to be doing.

According to Wednesday’s statement, the Journalists Syndicate issued a “total condemnation of the verbal and physical attacks against journalists while carrying out their work.”                                                                            

The syndicate also called on French authorities to prosecute individuals arrested in the attacks. The statement concluded by mentioning that a free press could only flourish under a conducive climate, in which the work of journalists is not obstructed.

Various figures working in Egypt’s media industry have repeatedly resorted to verbal and physical attacks against civilians, such as publicly defaming victims of sexual assault, slandering members of the political opposition, publicly insulting civilians critical of the Sisi regime, threatening and mobilizing assaults against protesting workers, and even leading police forces in a raid against civilians in a bathhouse.