Egyptian Ministry of Interior denies blocking journalists from Hajj lottery coverage

The Egyptian Ministry of Interior has denied allegations that journalists were prevented from covering the public Hajj lottery held in Monufia Governorate on September 2. This denial follows a statement from the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, which claimed that reporters were blocked from performing their duties, an act the Syndicate described as a violation of press freedom and the public's right to information.

A security source cited by the Ministry stated that no journalists or media professionals were barred from the event or any other lotteries held across various governorates. The Ministry clarified that filming is subject to specific regulations, including the submission of official letters from employers, possession of valid permits, or being accredited by the Ministry. The Ministry noted that the names of the journalists in question were not included in the approved lists provided by media institutions.

The Ministry further stated that two of the affected journalists had filed similar complaints last year and had been informed of the regulations at that time. Meanwhile, the Journalists Syndicate's Freedom Committee expressed full solidarity with the reporters in Monufia, calling the reported prevention of coverage a violation of the Egyptian Constitution and the Press and Media Regulation Law.