Originally published on the CGS blog on September 14, 2009.
The Washington Post recently published an article and an op-ed about the possibility of the Egyptian culture minister, Farouk Hosni, to become the next director general of UNESCO. The controversy of Hosni’s candidacy comes from charges that he has displayed hatred toward Israel and has had a large role in Egypt’s censorship bureaucracy. According to the Washington Post article, “he [Hosni] told an Islamist member of the Egyptian parliament that he would personally burn any Israeli books found in Egyptian libraries.” Due to this remark, much opposition has come against Hosni, and also the President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, who has shown total support for Hosni. Furthermore, Hosni has received “pledges of support” from the Arab League, the Organization of African Unity, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. If all of these groups continue to support him, he is basically guaranteed victory. According to Mona Eltahawy (author of the op-ed), an Egyptian writer,
“A stronger case against Hosni’s bid to lead the U.N. cultural organization would focus on how he has used censorship and disregarded individual freedom to ultimately strip Egypt of its robust culture. He might not have actually burned books, but he has banned plenty.”
Hosni has publicly stated that “We ban any book that insults any religion.” Hosni’s candidacy is a true threat to UNESCO’s mission to promote freedom of expression.
