A Cairo court sentenced three Egyptian journalists to one year’s imprisonment on Sunday for libelling Housing Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Soleiman last year.
President Hosni Mubarak promised journalists in February 2004 that he would press for the abolition of custodial sentences for publishing offences but the press law re2_kommentars unchanged because parliament has not acted.
Between 100 and 200 journalists gathered at their union building in central Cairo on Sunday evening to protest at the verdict and demand that Mubarak fulfil his promise.
The journalists work for the independent newspaper al-Masry al-Youm, which went daily last year and which often carries exclusive reports on domestic politics. (reuters)