The Ministry of Communications this week announced new restrictions pertaining to the use of text messaging for the dissemination of cellphone news alerts.

Deep resentment was expressed by The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information condemning the successive decisions restricting media freedoms in Egypt prior to the forthcoming public elections.

In an opinion article in Al Masry Al Youm, Hassan Nafaa writes: “Al-Dostour’s recently dismissed chief editor, Ibrahim Eissa, was not fired due to ordinary disputes over administrative or editorial

New restrictions and regulations have been enforced by Egypt's National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) in an attempt to increase control over the SMS messaging services available by mobile phone companies

Al-Dostour’s recently dismissed chief editor, Ibrahim Eissa, was not fired due to ordinary disputes over administrative or editorial issues. The decision to remove Eissa was without a doubt political.