Egypt adds media watchdog to blocked websites list

CAIRO: Egypt has blocked access to the website of media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), adding the organisation to a growing list of restricted online sites in the North African country.

The Paris-based group said Thursday its website was blocked on August 14, shortly after it had issued a statement condemning the ongoing detention of an Egyptian photojournalist.

"This is the first time that the RSF site has been blocked in Egypt,” Alexandra El Khazen – the head of RSF’s Middle East desk – said, according to Middle East Eye.

“This extensive digital blackout in Egypt is not just a grave attack on freedom of information. It [is] also indicative of a fear on the part of the regime that an informed public could pose a threat to its stability,” the publication added.

Egypt has blocked more than 100 websites since May, including media sites seen as critical of the government.

Rights groups have repeatedly accused former army chief and now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of stifling dissent.

In the 2017 press freedom index published by MSF, Egypt ranked 161st out of 180 countries.