Censorship Law Challenged by Egyptian Lawyer

Censorship Law Challenged by Egyptian Lawyer

Nasser Amin, an Egyptian lawyer challenged law that allows for writers to be jailed for writings that violate Egyptian morals.

The challenge came about when a trial was in process for an Egyptian writer, Ahmed Naji, who could face almost USD $1,300 dollar fine and two years in jail for his work, “The Use of Life,” which includes an explicit sex scene and reference to hashish use.

Amin has challenged the law based on two articles in the Egyptian constitution that ban this type of imprisonment for published materials unless they are defamatory, incite violence or are discriminatory. The prosecution has insisted that the material in the book should be treated as journalism.