On June 10th of every year, Egyptian journalists celebrated the Day of Egyptian Journalists, commemorating a historic memorial that was fought by the press community in 1995 against Act No. 93 of 1995, then known as the Law on the Killing of the Press.
The beginning of the story.
The chapters of the story began on 27 May 1995, when Act No. 93 was adopted, which guarantees that journalists will not be held in pre-trial detention, which provoked a wave of anger between the press community and intellectuals. In response, the Council of the Journalists ' Union convened an emergency public assembly on 10 June, preceded by broad protest events, including the publication of a blacklist of deputies who supported the law.
The General Assembly continued to hold a permanent session for a full year, during which it faced government pressures with greater coherence, intellectual and professional solidarity; in the end, these efforts were successful; Act No. 93 was repealed; and Act No. 96 of 1996, which restored certain guarantees of freedom of the press, recorded a historic victory for journalists.
The General Assembly has chosen 10 June to serve as an annual day of freedom of the press; to renounce this battle that has embedded the Journalists ' Unit in defending their profession and rights, and today remains a constant reminder of the importance of freedom of expression and the central role of the press in building a democratic society.
Ongoing challenges
Despite the years, freedom of the press continues to face serious and multiple challenges in many States of the world, making the Day of Egyptian Journalism a renewed occasion to affirm the Covenant by defending the free speech, particularly in areas of inflammatory conflict; this occasion may be an opportunity to renew the demand for fair legislation that guarantees freedom of expression and effectively protects journalists around the world.
Indeed, on 10 June, it will remain a living symbol of the struggle of Egyptian journalists for their freedom, a firm affirmation that the free word is not restricted, and that the authors of the pen will remain guarded by the truth. Whatever the challenges come.
