New York, November 21, 2011 - Clashes between security
forces and protesters in Cairo and other Egyptian cities have led to at least 17
assaults on the press over the past couple of days, including a shooting,
detentions, and a beating by unidentified security personnel while in custody. The
Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the attacks and calls on authorities
to bring them to an immediate end.
"Journalists must be allowed to carry out their work without
threat of assault," said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ's Middle East and North
Africa program coordinator. "Furthermore, prosecutors have an obligation to
investigate claims of abuse by military and police against journalists."