The Press Syndicate case is not related to freedom of speech, as it is a criminal case about the harbouring of suspects in violation of the law, said President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, in his first comment on the crisis that erupted on 1 May between journalists and security forces. “[The defendants in the case] didn’t go to trial for being a journalist or expressing opinions. “Look at the press and media in Egypt and you will find that people talk as they please. Yet, the events were ignored by Al-Sisi, even though he gave a public speech on 5 May. Al-Sisi denied that an emergency law was being imposed in Egypt or that his government works outside of the confines of the law.

Source: Daily News Egypt November 23, 2016 12:34 UTC