On Monday, May 30th, 2011, Egyptian activist and journalist Hossam El-Hamalawy was summoned by the military prosecutor in relations to on-air accusations (made Thursday May 26) of the military`s attack on protesters and activists during the Egyptian uprising. Below are a sequence of videos and reports that highlight how the events unfolded, giving voice to Hossam El-Hamalawy at different stages of the controversy. [Jadaliyya will be conducting the fourth interview with Hossam on the Muslim Brotherhood. See the first three interviews here, here, and here].
Video on Hossam El-Hamalawy on On TV show hosted by Reem Maged wherein in he makes his statements (Thursday May 26, 2011):
Ahram Online article by Salma Shukrallah discussing military prosecutor`s summoning of Hossam El-Hamalway and others (Monday May 30, 2011):
Blogger and Ahram Online journalist Hossam El-Hamalawy and TV host Reem Maged were given a summons on Monday to appear before military prosecution after Maged screened on her show on Thursday Hamalawy criticising the role of military police, holding the head of the military police responsible for torturing activists.
The questioning will start tomorrow at 11am, and there has already been a call for demonstrations in front of the military prosecutor`s building.
Journalist Nabil Sharaf El-Din was also summoned on the same day after he criticised on OnTV Friday the way the military was handling the transition period.
Sharaf El-Din claims that the military’s approach makes many suspect that there is a transfer-of-power deal with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The same programme aired a very critical phone call with Mamdouh Shahin, member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), who attacked both OnTV and Sharaf El-Din.
The SCAF has criticised what it calls “irresponsible media,” arguing that it is creating a national split between the military and the people. The SCAF has decided to hold a forum 5 June to discuss the Egyptian media with the country`s various political forces.
Video of Hossam El-Hamalawy on al-Tahrir television station describing his summons and his reaction to it (Monday May 30, 2011):
Ahram Online article by Salma Shukrallah reporting on meeting between Hossam El-Hamalawi and military prosecutor (Tuesday May 31, 2011):
Journalist and blogger Hossam El-Hamalawy and TV presenter Reem Maged who have been summoned on Monday for questioning by military prosecution were not in fact interrogated, lawyer says.
The head of military prosecution only discussed the statements made by El-Hamalawy on Maged’s television programme in an attempt to clarify the accusations which El-Hamalawy directed at the military police, according to lawyer Haitham Mohamadein. El-Hamalawy had criticized the military police for torturing activists and held the head of the military police responsible.
The head of the military prosecution asked El-Hamalawy for proof of military police violations, Mohamadein said.
A demonstration was staged by hundreds of activists as El-Hamalawy and Maged were at the military prosecution. Activists considered the summoning of the two journalists as an infringement on the freedom of expression and feared that the military prosecution will file charges.
Video of Hossam El-Hamalawy and Reem Magd on On TV discussing their meeting with the military prosecutor (Tuesday May 31, 2011):