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CAIRO (AP) — A press freedoms group has called on Egyptian authorities to reverse their decision to take over a daily newspaper a day after security forces stormed its headquarters.
Reporters Without Borders says Tuesday the decision to take over al-Mesryoon was taken by a government commission charged with confiscating assets held by the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group. It says the state-run daily Akhbar el-Yom has been put in charge of running al-Mesryoon.
Sophie Anmuth, RSF's Middle East director, says Egyptian authorities "have yet again demonstrated an inability to tolerate criticism, no matter how moderate."
RSF ranked Egypt 161st out of 180 countries on its 2017 World Press Freedom Index.
Authorities have blocked hundreds of websites as part of a heavy crackdown on dissent, while vague laws criminalize the spreading of "false news."
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