The United Nations Special Rapporteur on  the Protection and Promotion on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression calls on the Government of Egypt,  to guarantee full security for journalists, national and international as well  as the free function of all Press agencies in the country.  Encourages the authorities as well to facilitate the normal operations of  internet service providers and all forms of communications including the Freedom of Expression of internet users.

In particular urges the government as well to protect all Human Rights Defenders and journalists from any form of harassment and intimidation and to allow peaceful demonstrations and protests which constitute a legitimate form of exercising Freedom of Expression.

The Rapporteur has received information of several incidents where government supporters used violence or intimidation against peaceful demonstrations such as the events in Tahrir Square  on feb 3rd., and  in other parts of Cairo  several NGOs have been searched and their equipment confiscated specially Human Rights Organizations that have denounced Human Rights violations by security forces.

Several journalists have also suffered arbitrary detention and the confiscation of their equipment according to the Committee for the Protection of Journalists –CPJ- and Reporters Sans Frontieres, for which the Rapporteur urges authorities to immediately release any journalist or Human Rights Defenders that may still be on their such detention.

Finally the Special Rapporteur urges all States to comply with their obligations of protecting Human Rights according to the standards of International Human Rights Law which they have voluntarily ratify and reiterates that the respect for Human Rights and in particularly the full exercise of Freedom of Expression constitute the measure of any democracy.