Egyptian parliament deliberates a draft law on the regulation of media and press

The Egyptian cabinet submitted a draft law comprised of three bills that separately regulate the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, the National Media Authority, and the National Press Authority – the three bodies that altogether regulate the Egyptian media outlets in all forms including printed, broadcast and electronic. The bills were contested by several Members of Parliament (MPs). While Osama Heikal, head of parliament’s media committee, said that ‘the new laws will ensure the independence of the press and media in Egypt through unprecedented guarantees”, MP Talaat Khalil condemned the law for ’eliminat[ing] freedom of speech and expression.’