Egypt’s press syndicate demands dismissal of interior minister and apology from president

Egypt’s press syndicate demanded on Wednesday that the interior minister be dismissed and the president apologise and release all journalists imprisoned in press-related cases.

The syndicate announced a list of 18 demands during an emergency meeting of its general assembly held in response to a police raid on its headquarters on 1 May and the arrest of two journalists who had been staging a sit-in.

Thousands of journalists attended the meeting, defying tight security measures imposed by security forces.

The 18 demands included the dismissal of the interior minister and an apology to journalists by Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi for the raid and the crackdown on journalists.

The general assembly also called for the release of all journalists imprisoned in press-related cases and called for laws protecting the syndicate and the press.

Journalists agreed that the name of the interior minister should not be mentioned in media outlets until their demands are met. His photo is also not to be published.

The syndicate also decided to file a lawsuit against the interior ministry for the raid on its headquarters.