After a deadly militant attack against Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai peninsula, the Egyptian media promised that they would refrain from criticism of the government.
Egyptian media is one of the most influential and widely-read in the region, with television as their most popular source of the news. There is a huge political divide in the media where non-state outlets side with the liberal and secular position while Islamic media stand behind ousted President, Mohammad Morsi. Mr. Morsi's supporters are "quick to attack media and journalists" and have a huge support with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The attack back in October of 2014 triggered President Abdel Fattah e-Sisi's idea that it was a "conspiracy," prompting a group of Egyptian newspaper editors to pledge against criticizing the government. State institutions and government loyalists have come together to condemn terrorism and move against any kind of dissent against the government.
Sisi and the government believe that any kind of criticism against the government and the military is seen as aiding terrorism, justifying the new crackdown.
Free speech is one of the major changes pledged by Sisi in a "new Egypt" but Sherif Mansour, Middle East program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said that Sisi's promise to maintain freedom of speech was not sincere. Mansour says:
"This is a double-faced policy trying to appease the international community, arguing that Egypt is on track for democracy and justifying restrictive measures under an anti-terrorism banner."
Michele Dunne, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said:
"President el-Sissi explicitly instructed journalists to refrain from agitating the public, saying that the media needs to preserve the integrity of the Egyptian state. Following that, the heads of major government and privately owned newspapers pledged to refrain from covering unrest or criticize state institutions."
Many Egyptian journalists have shown major resistance against government efforts to control the media. Hundreds are joining together to speak out against the pledge to limit criticism and are continuing critical coverage of Egypt.
Stephen McInerney, executive director of the Program for Middle East Democracy, believes it is essential for the U.S. to aid in this issue of freedom of the press and human rights in order to govern democratically. But the U.S. is hesitant to assist because they are trying to build an Arab coalition against ISIL and wants Egypt participation.