More than 20 Egyptian independent and opposition newspapers were not on newsstands on Sunday as part of an effort to protest the country's crackdown on press freedom.
Opposition and independent newspapers editors and opposition party leaders called for the one-day strike after an Egyptian court last month sentenced the editors of four outspoken tabloids to a year in prison for defaming President Hosni Mubarak and his ruling party after they criticized senior officials in the government.
One of the editors also faces charges in a separate lawsuit of spreading rumours that the 79-year-old Mubarak was in poor health.
Another opposition newspaper editor and two journalists were also sentenced recently to two years in prison for allegedly publishing false news about the country's judiciary.
The crackdowns have raised an outcry from human rights groups and even criticism from the United States, Mubarak's top ally.
White House press secretary, Dana Perino, last month said, "these latest decisions appear to contradict the Egyptian government's stated commitment to expand democratic rights."
Government newspapers criticized the opposition decision to halt publication on Sunday, which coincided with Egypt's holiday marking its 1973 war with Israel and the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Mohammed Ali Ibrahim, the editor of another pro-government newspaper, Al Gomhuria, said the opposition newspapers halted publication for "personal issues". - DDNEWS
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
