Court revokes Al-Nabaa newspaper license

The Administrative State Court cancelled the license of the tabloid Al-Nabaa newspaper issued by the Supreme Council of the Press, which means that the paper will never be published again. The court convened under counselor Magdi Al-Agati.

The court said the Egyptian Constitution has guaranteed the freedom of the press that is considered the mouthpiece of the nation's aspirations.

But the constitution which gave the press its freedom has conditioned that it should be responsible for serving the society, not harming its main four elements; religion, family, morals and nationalism, the court added.

If the press veered off its right course and became a danger instead of being a glimpse of hope, it should be then checked by the justice system to help it go back to its senses,the court added.

On the other hand, the State Council Administrative Court Wednesday turn downed a case filed by Mamdouh Mahran, Editor-in-Chief of "AL Nabaa" weekly, in which he had asked for the suspension of a decision issued by the minister of interior banning the publication, issuing and distribution of the paper.

The case was turned down to give time to hear the pleadings of the two sides. The court said earlier that it would pass its judgment Wednesday but it decided to turn down the case to hear pleadings.

The defence for the state Judiciary Authority said in previous sessions that the minister of interior had not issued a decision banning the publication or issue of the paper, an Egyptian statement said.