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MEMRI Daily: December 3, 2010

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The following is research published today from MEMRI's Special Dispatch Series and the MEMRI TV Project. Special Dispatch No. 3412 - Egypt Reactions to Closure of Satellite TV Channels Twelve channels carried by the Egyptian satellite network Nilesat, which is owned in part by the Egyptian government, were recently shut down – among them Islamist, entertainment, family, and alternative medicine channels – while letters of warning were sent to 20 others. The week before, four Nilesat channels, among them Al-Nas TV, were shut down, and two, including Al-Fara'een TV, received warning letters for alleged contract violations. In addition, the Islamist television channel Al-Rahma TV reported that its broadcasting had been suspended. Since then, some of the channels have come back on the air. Nilesat's management explained that the channels had been suspended temporarily until they complied with the terms of their fixed contracts, which stipulate that their programming must respect the principles of the monotheistic religions and the traditions and customs of Egyptian society, and that it must avoid instigating sectarian or interfaith strife. Egyptian Information Minister Anas Al-Fiqi said that the measures taken against the channels – both the extremist and the overly permissive ones – were intended to preserve the moral fabric of Egyptian and Arab society and to ensure responsible media reporting. Salafi-jihadi forums and websites posted the conditions that had been set for the renewal of the channels' broadcasting: avoiding the topics of Christianity and Shi'a and any content likely to spark fitna (civil strife) or spread extremism; cutting religious programs to less than 50% of the broadcasting schedule, and removing all programs on fatwas or alternative medicine; avoiding discussing or even mentioning Al-Azhar; allowing women to appear on air; program hosts must be beardless. To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/4802.htm#_edn4 Special Dispatch No. 3414 - Iran/Proliferation of WMDs Amir Hossein Shirani, Abducted Employee at Secret Iranian Nuclear Plant, Reveals Location of Plant and of Nuclear Scientists, Says: The Facility Enriched Uranium in Order to Build a Nuclear Weapon Following are excerpts from an interview with Amir Hossein Shirani, an employee at a secret Iranian nuclear plant, who was abducted by the Sunni Baluchi opposition group Jundallah. The interview aired on Al-Arabiya TV on November 27, 2010. To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/2699.htm. Amir Hossein Shirani: "In the name of God the Merciful the Compassionate, my name is Amir Hossein Shirani, son of Mohammad. My ID number is 2428, and I was born in 1971. I have a bachelor's degree." To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/4804.htm. Special Dispatch No. 3422—Egypt/Lebanon Egyptian TV Host Tamer Amin: I Support Iran and Egypt Obtaining Nuclear Weapons Because 'There Must Be Some Scarecrow to Frighten' Israel Following is an interview with Egyptian TV host Tamer Amin, which aired on LBC TV (Lebanon) on November 10, 2010: To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/2700.htm. Interviewer: "Are you for or against revoking the Egyptian citizenship of Egyptian men who marry Israeli women?" Amin Taher: "Everything should be taken from them, not just their citizenship." [...] Interviewer: Are you for or against the government outlawing the Muslim Brotherhood? Amin Taher: "I support it." To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/4812.htm Special Dispatch No. 3406—Egypt/ Lantos Archives on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial Egyptian Cleric Abdallah Samak: The Jews, Who Slayed the Prophets, Are Known for Their 'Merciless, Murderous, and Bloodthirsty Nature' Following are excerpts from a religious program hosted by Egyptian cleric Abdallah Samak, which aired on Al-Rahma TV (Egypt) on September 7, 2010: To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/2658.htm. Abdallah Samak: "One of the characteristics of the Jews is that they are outstanding murderers. Who do they kill? If only they killed regular people, but they slayed the prophets. They unjustly slayed the prophets. The Jews are known for their merciless, murderous, and bloodthirsty nature. This is clearly documented in their holy books and writings, without beating around the bush." [...] To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/4796.htm. Special Dispatch No. 3413— Muslim Brotherhood/Egypt/Europe and the Arab & Muslim World Mohammad Ghanem, Muslim Brotherhood Representative in the UK: The Egyptian Regime is a Dictatorship Following is an excerpt from an interview with Mohammed Ghanem, representative of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK, which aired on Press TV (Iran) on November 15, 2010: To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/2697.htm. Mohammad Ghanem: "To understand the political system in Egypt, you must recognize that the regime in Egypt is a dictatorship. Parliamentary elections are a show, and I would see no difference... The outcome of the elections... Mr. Mubarak has been there 30 years. He holds 85% of the power of the regime, and the 15% within the Authority [Assembly] of the People are appointed by him." To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/4803.htm.