Update: Mona Iraqi fired by shnit film festivals
shnit PLAYGROUND Cairo 2015, organizers of International short film festivals, announced today on their website:
“As of its annual Council meeting on December 22th in Bern, the Board of Trustees of the shnit FOUNDATION, in accordance with Festival Director, has decided to exclute Mona Iraqi from the shnit International Shortfilmfestival immediately. shnit International Shortfilmfestival completely distance from and condemn the practices – professional and ethical – employed by Mona Iraqi as a TV reporter in the events of December 7th in Cairo. These practices are at utter odds with the principles of the shnit International Shortfilmfestival.
“The Board of Trustees believes it is of great importance, however, to continue the shnit PLAYGROUND in Cairo, under new management and in line with the values of respect, tolerance and artistic expression without prejudice for which shnit has always stood. Commitment to these principles is a foundation of each and every PLAYGROUND and shnit’s management team around the world.
“We thank again those who brought the issue to our attention, and to those who allowed us the due process to make an informed and considered decision.”
We issued a call to protest a few days ago that was organised by a group of activists from North Africa and the Middle East. Thanks to everyone who wrote to Shnit to complain about Iraqi’s unethical attendance as a reporter to film the gross human rights abuses by police officials.
Activists had condemned the arrests of from 26 to 40 men at a Cairo public bath on December 7th. Iraqi had made arrangements with police to film the raid without advising anyone at the baths that a raid would take place. Those arrested remain incarcerated.
Click here to see all our reports on Egypt at 76Crimes.com.
