LEGISLATION WATCH- The Press and Media Act contains plenty that is unconstitutional, says Maglis El Dawla: The Council of State (Maglis El Dawla) has delivered a scathing report on the Press and Media Act, calling some of its core articles “unconstitutional” and an “infringement” on “press freedoms enshrined in the constitution,” according to Al Masry Al Youm. Its report cited Article 6, which bans news organizations based or holding subsidiaries abroad from practicing in Egypt without a special permit from the Supreme Media Council, as being unconstitutional. The report also called into question articles that essentially ban paid content by media organizations and questioned the minimum capital requirement for licensed media organizations. It also noted that the act fails to provide an appeals process for companies sanctioned by the authorities. The controversial law, which had been heavily criticized by the local and foreign press, was kicked back to the Maglis after the House of Representatives made significant amendments to the proposed bill act.

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