The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented serious professional violations against a journalist at the Egyptian newspaper “Al-Ummal,” following his exposure of corruption cases within one of Egypt’s labor institutions. He was suspended from work and arbitrarily barred from entering the newspaper’s headquarters.
According to the CFJ, the journalist – who preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons – revealed the involvement of several officials in the Egyptian Federation of Trade Unions in financial and administrative corruption cases, including nepotism and irregularities in appointments. His investigations uncovered that the daughter of the federation’s secretary-general was appointed to a fictitious position with an open-ended mission that allowed her to avoid attendance while continuing to receive her salary.
The CFJ explained that the journalist faced a series of punitive measures, starting with the deprivation of his basic professional rights, followed by his suspension from work on April 8, 2025, culminating in his ban from entering the workplace. Additionally, a complaint was filed against him with the Press Syndicate in a clear attempt to end his professional career.
The journalist turned to the Press Syndicate to file an official complaint and also submitted a formal report at the Azbakeya Police Station to document the incident.
For its part, the CFJ affirms that this case represents a blatant violation of press freedom and the rights of media workers, as journalists are being punished for performing their professional duty of exposing corruption and protecting public funds. The committee notes that these practices contradict the Egyptian constitution and international conventions that guarantee freedom of opinion and expression.
The CFJ calls for an urgent investigation into these violations, ensuring the protection of journalists who expose corruption cases, reinstating the dismissed journalist to his position, and compensating him for the damages incurred.
