GENEVA – The Euro-Med Monitor for Human Rights is calling on the Egyptian authorities to stop the media incitement campaigns against the Palestinians, and the dissemination of accusations without any evidence and legal basis.

The continuous incitement against Palestinians in Egypt is disturbing; the Egyptian authorities should halt these inflammatory campaigns and prevent arbitrary charges. The Observer is therefore demanding the Egyptian media to exercise precision, and to adopt a balanced media language and be responsible and objective when dealing with such sensitive issues.

If confirmed that Palestinians have participated in criminal acts, they should be prosecuted according to the law. However, the law guarantees to criminal defendants the rights to due process and equal protection under the laws and the right to have legal counsel present. Random accusations should not be addressed to an entire population as a form of collective punishment.

The Observer has documented in the period of June 1st – July 15th 2013 thirty-four direct calls for violence against Palestinians on six different Egyptian TV channels, and 179 online articles that also incite directly or indirectly against the Palestinians.

The Observer states that the Egyptian media campaigns against the Palestinians have serious repercussion threatening the security and safety of the Palestinian residents in Egypt and the citizens in Gaza.

The observer also condemns the Egyptian leadership and its authorities for ignoring the systematic public incitement in the media against the Palestinians and the calls for killing and expelling the Palestinians in Egypt.

The Observer refers to the fact that Egypt is among the signatory states of Article 20 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, which states that “Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.” Article 26 stipulates that “All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” Article 176 of the Egyptian Penal Code criminalized incitement against any group of people.