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Protesters with laptop on in Cairo, Egypt. The government has announced a new site to counter foreign media's 'partial truths'
Protesters with laptop on in Cairo, Egypt. The government has announced a new site to counter foreign media’s ‘partial truths’ Photograph: Etienne De Malglaive/Getty Images
Protesters with laptop on in Cairo, Egypt. The government has announced a new site to counter foreign media’s ‘partial truths’ Photograph: Etienne De Malglaive/Getty Images

Egypt launches English blog to counter 'inaccurate reports' by foreign media

This article is more than 8 years old

Accusing international press of ‘smear campaigns’, foreign ministry sets up website to hit back at critical coverage. Mada Masr reports

Egypt has launched a new English blog to “enhance its communication with the world” and to address “inaccurate” reports about the country in foreign media.

Launched this week under the name Egypt MFA Blog: Egypt Connects, the blog aims to create an “informal platform” for those interested in the country’s foreign policy, according to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. He said it would allow officials, diplomats, scholars, academics, writers and thinkers to exchange opinions.

Another of its functions will be to correct alleged misconceptions about the situation in Egypt to the international community, Shoukry said.

“It provides a tool to supplement formal channels of information and to circumvent the labyrinthine editorial policies of the mainstream international media. The aim is to provide a more objective narrative of events in Egypt for those who seek more than just the partial truth,” Shoukry wrote in welcome note on the blog.

Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abou Zeid took a harsher tone in a statement in Arabic, saying the website comes amid “smear media campaigns adopted by some foreign media outlets regarding political, economic and security issues in Egypt.”

The ministry could be referring to recent CNN coverage of the abduction of a Croatian hostage by the Islamic State affiliate in Egypt, Province of Sinai. In a recent statement, the ministry slammed CNN’s coverage.

“The report spoke of the spread of chaos and terrorism and the absence of the state’s power in Egypt in a way that is extremely sarcastic, and which is far removed from objectivity, professionalism and honesty,” the ministry said.

The ministry also lambasted the international NGO Human Rights Watch this month for being “suspicious and politicised”, following a report it had released on 14 August, the second anniversary of the violent dispersal of the Rabea al-Adaweya sit-in.

The ministry’s blog contains a disclaimer that all contributions reflect only the author’s personal views, not the position of the Egyptian government. Comments have so far been disabled on the first two posts.

During a phone call about the launch, the ministry declined to comment on questions about whether non-Egyptians would be allowed to contribute, or whether a more critical view of Egypt’s foreign policy will be presented in the blog.

‘Highlight positive aspects’

The first contribution posted addresses the New Suez Canal bypass. Written by Jasmine Moussa, assistant professor of law at the American University in Cairo, the article examines the economic impact of the new project and its political significance, seeking to “highlight its positive aspects”.

Moussa uses the post to respond to criticism of the New Suez Canal project, emphasising enthusiastic responses from international media, including reports from the UK Chamber of Shipping, and remarks by British defence secretary Michael Fallon.

Moussa goes on to criticise reports that were skeptical of the project, including a Foreign Policy article by journalist Sarah Carr on “President Sisi’s Canal Extravaganza”, in which the writer attacks the “unnecessary infrastructure in a country that is falling to pieces.”

Moussa describes Carr’s analysis as “disturbing”, “lengthy” and “cynical”. “What Egypt needs now more than anything is some optimism that is grounded in sound, objective, fact-based scholarly analysis. No one seeks or expects complete consensus on the way forward, but what is definitely expected is professionalism, objectivity and some measure of respect,” Moussa suggested.

Jannis Grimm, a researcher on the Middle East and North Africa for a Berlin-based institute for security affairs, said any attempt at “critical exchange” could work well for strengthening foreign relations. However, he had doubts that the site would have any notable effect unless its content is also made available in Arabic. “The value of translating all texts into Arabic would be that critical comments would be accessible to the non-English speaking population, that could then corroborate the MFA’s comments or replies.

“However, I guess that is highly unlikely to happen since even in Egyptian bilingual newspapers, we find different stories and wordings for the different readerships (foreign and domestic).”

Grimm’s fears are well placed. While the Arabic statement about the blog launch included strong criticism of foreign media, the English version was very brief, serving only to introduce the blog as a forum for the exchange of opinions, and providing the URL.

Concerning the Foreign Ministry’s attempts to “correct misconceptions” about the situation in Egypt, Grimm believes that there aren’t actually many misconceptions. Grimm himself has authored a critical review of the state of Egyptian civil society under new legislative restrictions published this month.

“Terrorism and the state inability to fight it is obvious, human rights violations are proven by countless organisations with an international reputation, death penalties are being executed, elections postponed – how can one make these right with words on a blog?” he asked.

In June, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported that Egypt’s media climate has become significantly more repressive, with more Egyptian journalists imprisoned than ever before recorded. At least 18 journalists are behind bars, and the threat of jail is used to censor critical voices, the Committee found.

A version of this article first appeared on Mada Masr

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