[tps_header][/tps_header] On May 3, the world celebrates the Press Freedom Day. This year, nonetheless, Egypt celebrates it with dozens of journalists behind bars and a plethora of blocked websites. On 24 May 2017, tens of online websites and newspapers became inaccessible. It didn’t take long until users grasped that Egypt’s authorities had blocked the access to these websites, particularly because they were accessible by people outside Egypt. It wasn’t disclosed which authority is responsible for the blocking measure and it remains unknown until today. Gradually, the number of blocked websites started to increase, and the blockade was monitored by the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) that announced in a report in February of this year that the total number of blocked websites has reached 496, including 98 news websites. Multiple news websites, including Mada Masr, have maneuvered their way around the blockade measure to enable their readers to access their websites, and their journalists have nevertheless been attempting to maintain integrity and professionalism. On the other hand, dozens of journalists were left jobless after the blockade resulted in financial struggles for news websites. Other websites that don’t pertain…
Egypt Celebrates Press Freedom Day With Hundreds Of Blocked Websites
May 3, 2018
