In December 1976, Mamdouh Salem, then Minister of Interior, issued a

decision to cancel censorship on books and newspapers. This was one way President Sadat aimed at

presenting himself as democratic. The editors and the managers of the newspapers were appointed

by the president himself and thus were directly responsible to him.

• See art. 32:

Baheb Al-Sima raises questions about the role of religious institutions in censoring artistic

works.

• See article 21: Some men of religion are giving out opinions that are licenses to

justify dictatorship.