A press conference was held yesterday at the Journalists' Syndicate on the establishment of a committee to defend creative freedoms. The idea of the committee came from filmmaker Dawood Abdel Sayed and film producer and actress Isaad Younis.

Many prominent figures attended the press conference, including religious figures Gamal Kotb, former chief of Al-Azhar's Religious Edict (Fatwa) Committee, and Father Boutoros Daniel, writer Bahaa Taher, poet Gamal Bakheit, actors Hussein Fahmy, Mahmoud Hemeida, Geihan Fadel, Basma, Yousra, and media figures Youssry Fouda and Reem Maged.

The revolutionary Ahmed Harrara, who lost both of his eyes in violence by security forces, was also among attendees.

Kotb declared that creativity should not be enforced in schools and should not come from the state budget, and that each person should follow his own path in creative work. Film producer Mohamed El-Adl said that everyone everywhere should express his or her opinion and that the state budget belongs to the people.

The actor Mohmoud Yassin said that the idea of the committee is an extension of the revolutionary spirit in the country.

The head of the Musicians' Syndicate, Iman El-Bahr Darwish, expressed his sorrow for the fallen martyrs, saying that the syndicate will not be joining in the celebration planned by the military on 25 January.

A statement was released from the press conference that underlined the following points:

- The Egyptian character should remain intact

- The migration of artists should be prevented, while ensuring they are not repressed within the country

- Cultural heritage should not be tampered with

- Thought should not be condemned, whether for criticising the army or criticising religious groups

The committee vowed to continue the revolution until no citizen dies of hunger while others live in abundance, while thousands are unjustly imprisoned, and as long as some arrive to court proceedings in a helicopter while others are attacked in the street.