Humor from Egypt: Honor in Journalism

Hosni Mubarak, president of Egypt, has a developed sense of humor, not unlike that of comrade Stalin. After jailing editors for publishing "rumors" that he is ill, Mubarak had this to say:

 

 

"The ignorance of some [writers] of the facts and [their] going too far in publishing lies and false information, is an issue that has nothing to do with the freedom of press but aimes [sic] at causing chaos," ....

 

Mubarak stressed that press freedoms were not stifled but that everyone who violates the journalism's[sic] covenant of honor or puts the nation's safety in peril must be punished."

 

 

The covenant of honor of Egyptian journals, and the ignorance of the writers are never at issue as regards Israel or Jews. Despite a peace treaty that supposedly bans incitement, Egyptian newspapers routinely publish anti-Semitic cartoons, articles alleging that Hitler didn't finish the work of killing the Jews, articles alleging the truth of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and similar fare. All these are apparently within the "journalism's code of honor," Egypt style, as was a recent and wholly fallacious report claiming that an Israeli unit had executed prisoners of war in the 1967 Six Day War.  

 

Ami Isseroff

 

Cross posted: Israel News  Middle East Analysis