The gazette notification issued in connection with the Prohibition of Obscene Publications Bill has been canceled. It is reported that the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice Ali Sabri has instructed to cancel the relevant gazette notification.
The gazette notification was issued on the 24th and it was opposed by many parties. Taking into consideration the objections and proposals, amendments are to be made to the Bill which has been prepared so far and the Ministry of Justice has decided to submit the amended Bill to the Cabinet for approval. The Minister of Justice has instructed the Secretary to cancel the gazette notification issued until then.
The Secretary to the Ministry said in a statement that the purpose of enacting a law to ban Obscene Publications was to protect the welfare of minors and the privacy of abused women, not to impede freedom of speech.
