The Press Syndicate is facing the first major push-back on its showdown with the Interior Ministry as both parliamentarians and some in its own ranks criticized its stance yesterday. The Press Syndicate’s executive committee was condemned at a gathering of news outlets and journalists organized by state-owned Al Ahram who are opposed to the stand the Press Syndicate has taken against the Interior Ministry, Al Ahram reports. The meeting included five members of the Press Syndicate who opposed the 16 demands issued last week — which those at the gathering decried as “illegal” — and insinuated that the syndicate’s leadership had unilaterally adopted the demands. The gathering also issued its own set of demands, which included calling for another general assembly to vote out the leadership of the Press Syndicate; forming their own fact-finding committee on the events surrounding the meeting, which led to the issuing of the 16 demands; and demanding an apology from the syndicate for escalating the conflict with the ministry.

The gathering’s message was echoed in a slightly less antagonistic speech by House Speaker Ali Abdel Al who also stressed that the Press Syndicate was not above the law. The House of Representative’s media committee will meet today to discuss the matter. The widespread support across the political spectrum the syndicate had received last week now seems in question. Ahram Online has coverage in English.