Israel Matzav

Egypt was freer under Mubarak

On Wednesday, Reporters Without Borders issued their annual survey of freedom of the press. I must admit that I find their methods suspect. For example, they dropped the US from 20th to 47th most free press because reporters were arrested covering the Occupy movement. I was taught that if you break the law, you get arrested, even if you have a press card. And it goes without saying to forget Israel. "Israel (Israeli territory)" comes in at number 92, while "Israel (Palestinian territory)," which comes mostly under the PA, comes in at 133. I don't buy that one either (Kuwait is ahead of us!).

But that's not why I'm posting this. I'm posting this because Egypt under Mubarak came in at 127 in 2010, Mubarak was forced from office a year ago on Wednesday. And for 2011, Egypt came in at 166.

A press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders says Egypt fell 39 places during the past year, al-Ahram Online reported Wednesday.

Last year Egypt was 127 on the press freedom list but the 2011/12 index placed the country lower at 166.

The group said Egypt's drop reflects the fact that the country's military rulers have continued the practices of Mubarak's dictatorship.

Journalists in Egypt suffered three periods of exceptional violence in February, November and December of 2011, the press freedom organization says.

Ah, folks, maybe it means they're worse than Mubarak? Aren't you glad we got rid of him, Barack?

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Egyptian Revolution, freedom of the press, Hosni Mubarak

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:39 PM