The Egyptian Press: An Historical View of Its Importance in Political Movements.

This report traces the development of the Egyptian press, from its origin with the arrival of the first printing press in 1789 to the present free press policies of Anwar Sadat. Because political struggle and social reform have accompanied the educational and cultural progress of Egypt, the news publications have traditionally been utilitarian. Official control of the press was established in 1824 and continued until 1974, in spite of weak constitutional provisions for a free press. Gamal Abdul Nasser enforced strict censorship during his regime, with the singular exception that Mohamed Hassanein Heykal, head of the national press department and Nasser's personal friend, was permitted to maintain intellectual independence and to openly criticize government policies. It was a significant step toward a world perspective for Egypt, the report concludes, when Anwar Sadat ended press censorship in 1974. It is paradoxical, however, that Sadat deposed Heykal, his most vocal critic, at the same time. (MAI)