At the invitation of the Egyptian Minister of State for Information, Dr. Diaa Rashwan, the Ministry of State for Information and Egypt’s media regulatory bodies have decided to issue a joint statement on behalf of the following entities: the Ministry of State for Information, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, the National Press Authority, and the National Media Authority—institutions responsible for regulating journalistic and media work in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The statement reads as follows:
We have closely followed the recent developments in the Egyptian and Arab media landscape, which have witnessed negative media practices and behaviors that harm and undermine the longstanding and deeply rooted relations between Egypt and several brotherly Arab countries. In this regard, the signatories to this statement affirm the following:
First:
The relationship between Egypt and the brotherly countries subjected to Iranian aggression—namely, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the Republic of Iraq, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan—is one of deeply rooted fraternity at the leadership, official, and popular levels, as well as through familial ties, intermarriage, and a shared destiny and future.
These relations have been affirmed and solidified by both distant and recent historical events, and have been forged through the challenges and crises experienced across the Arab region over the past eight decades. These experiences have demonstrated that such ties constitute the cornerstone for safeguarding the interests of the Arab nation and the vital interests of its states.
Accordingly, any attempt to undermine these relations is a crime aimed at harming both individual states and the collective national interests of the Arab nation. Such attempts are reprehensible and rejected on all ethical, national, and patriotic grounds.
Second:
The signatories call upon all media professionals in Egypt and in the brotherly countries to immediately cease engaging in these baseless disputes that lack any grounding in facts or reality. They further urge refraining from actions and reactions that fall short of the profound fraternal spirit that binds our peoples together.
There is a pressing need to prioritize reasoned discourse and to preserve the enduring bonds that have long united our nations—bonds that will continue to endure. The current developments are transient and will in no way alter the historical trajectory of cohesion and solidarity among our peoples and countries.
The participants in this statement specifically call on intellectual elites and opinion leaders in Egypt and across the Arab world to play their role in extinguishing this discord and thwarting attempts at incitement and division—efforts that serve only the enemies of this الأمة, foremost among them forces of evil and terrorist groups seeking to exploit such conditions to sow division between Egypt and its Arab counterparts.
They also call on all citizens in Egypt and the brotherly countries to exercise caution regarding the rumors, falsehoods, mutual insults, and fabricated incidents circulating on social media platforms, which aim to ignite discord among sister nations. Citizens are urged to refrain from engaging in such exchanges and not to be drawn into conspiracies designed to undermine unity and cohesion among our states and peoples.
All parties are encouraged to rely solely on official statements issued by the relevant authorities in Egypt and the aforementioned Arab countries concerning developments and both official and public positions, while disregarding any other dubious sources promoting misinformation.
Third:
The entities participating in this statement have decided, effective immediately, to utilize all provisions available under Egypt’s general laws, as well as the specific regulations governing each body, to regulate media performance in accordance with legal and professional standards. This is aimed at preventing harm to national interests, avoiding offense to brotherly nations or their officials, and safeguarding Egypt’s relations with them.
At the same time, the signatories urge the relevant authorities in the aforementioned brotherly countries to take similar measures, in accordance with their respective legal frameworks, to contain this discord, prevent harm to the interests of the Arab nation, and halt any offense directed at Egypt, its officials, or its relations with sister states.
