US embassy cable - 05CAIRO2968

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 002968 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, KPAO, PREL, EG 
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN JOURNALISTS SENTENCED TO PRISON TERMS FOR 
DEFAMING MINISTER 
 
 
Classified by ECPO Counselor John P. Desrocher for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (SBU)  A Cairo Criminal Court has convicted three 
journalists working for independent daily Al Masry Al Youm of 
defaming Minister of Housing Ibrahim Soliman.  The court 
sentenced the three defendants each to one year in jail and 
ordered them to pay fines of LE 10,000 (about $1750).  The 
sentences are a setback to press freedom.  They will also 
draw further attention to the alleged corruption of Minister 
Soliman.  End summary. 
 
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The Risks of Investigative Journalism in Egypt 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
2.  (U)  Al-Masry Al Youm reported in August 2004 that police 
had searched the offices of Minister of Housing, Utilities, 
and Urban Communities Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Soliman during an 
apparent corruption investigation.  Immediately thereafter, 
the Minister filed a complaint for defamation against 
journalists Abdel Nasser Ali, Youssef Al-Aoumi, and Alaa 
Yahya Mohamed El Ghatrify.  The cabinet also issued a 
statement, which Al Masry Al Youm promptly published, denying 
that Soliman's office had been searched. 
 
3.  (SBU)  The sentencing of the three journalists to jail 
time comes despite President Mubarak's announcement in 
February 2004 that he supported legislation that would bar 
courts from sentencing those convicted of defamation, or 
other publishing offenses, to jail.  The Egyptian Parliament 
has yet to act on Mubarak's proposal.  The journalists 
themselves, anticipating jail time, did not attend the 
sentencing.  They are now fugitives.  Their publisher, Hisham 
Kassem, told us that he had discussed the matter with 
Reporters Sans Frontieres and would continue to call 
attention to the case. 
 
4.  (U)  In a press release issued on April 18, the Egyptian 
Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), the country's leading 
independent human rights group, termed the convictions and 
sentencing "yet another violation of freedom of thought and 
opinion."  EOHR's press release flagged the failure of the 
GOE to implement President Mubarak's proposed scrapping of 
the law that allows for jail time for convictions in 
publishing cases.  It said that the case is another reminder 
of the need to revise Egyptian legislation "to bring it in 
line with international instruments." 
 
5.  (SBU)  On April 17 and 18, journalists staged a protest 
at the Cairo offices of the Press Syndicate.   Several post 
press contacts suspect that the convicted trio made a 
"beginner's mistake" with their August 2004 report when they, 
and their editors, ran with a story for which they did not 
have independent proof.  At the time, Al Masry Al Youm was 
just a few months old.  Publisher Kassem, however, told us 
that "we stand by our story." 
 
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Minister Soliman's Reputation for Corruption 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (SBU)  Although Minister Soliman may be pleased with the 
prosecution and sentencing of the journalists, his name will 
likely be cropping up in the news regularly in the coming 
months.  He has long been dogged by accusations of corruption 
and has pursued defamation charges against at least 16 
journalists, according to an observer of Egypt's media scene. 
 
 
7.  (SBU)  We understand that a court in Great Britain will 
begin hearing evidence in May regarding charges against 
renowned Egyptian construction engineer Mamdouh Hamza, who 
was arrested in London in July 2004, and whose firm played a 
key role in constructing the prize-winning Bibiliotheca 
Alexandrina.  Hamza allegedly conspired to have Soliman and 
several of his associates killed.  According to rumors 
circulating in Cairo salons, Hamza's animus for Soliman was 
inspired in part by the Minister's unwillingness to award any 
construction bids to Hamza's firm. 
 
8.  (C)  Soliman is widely believed to be corrupt, and has 
been a regular target of muckraking Egyptian journalists. 
Although he has a record of achievement with regard to 
developing Cairo's satellite cities, his many critics allege 
that he has enriched himself and his family--his 
brother-in-law runs a leading construction firm--with rigged 
bids.  Minister Soliman is also known for his close 
connections to First Lady Suzanne Mubarak and presidential 
son Gamal, as well as presidential advisor Zakaria Azmy and 
Minister for People's Assembly Affairs Kamal El Shazly. 
 
Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. 
 
GRAY