Inquiry and Analysis No. 875 By: L. Lavi* During the decades of President Hosni Mubarak's rule in Egypt, the media served as the official mouthpiece of the regime. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which ruled the country following Mubarak's ouster, sought to perpetuate this situation, and therefore continued to constrain the media, curbing its attempts to become free and independent. Now a similar policy is being pursued by the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), which since coming to power has been acting to seize control of the media and use it as a tool of the movement. This has sparked intense criticism from media members wishing to defend free speech, their livelihood, and their ability to influence public opinion. The tension between the MB and the media has been building since the presidential elections, during which many media outlets took a highly critical line against the MB. This was especially evident during the weeks prior to the first round of voting, when the media created the impression that Mursi was weak and that his chances of winning were slim. It was also manifested in statements and articles by minority groups and liberals, who expressed fears regarding the Islamization of the country in light of the MB's growing power. The tension even reached the point of incitement and violence when Tawfiq 'Okasha, owner of the television channel Al-Faraeen, incited to kill Mursi, prompting a protest by MB supporters during which demonstrators assaulted another journalist known for his anti-MB positions. The authorities responded to the incitement by temporarily shutting the channel down. Since the beginning of August, several additional developments have indicated an attempt by Mursi and the MB to control the media and curb its criticism against them: These moves are seen in Egypt as an attempt by the MB to seize yet another center of power, along with their campaign to regain control of the legislative branch; to maintain their majority in the Constituent Assembly, charged with drafting the new constitution; and to consolidate Mursi's position as the country's top decision maker. The wave of dismissals in the media and the tightening of censorship may have been meant to pave the way for Mursi's major reshuffle in the top echelons in the army, which occurred several days later, and for further moves meant to take the reigns of government away from the military. The anti-media measures sparked demonstrations and sit-down strikes by hundreds of journalists in Cairo, and the media published innumerable articles about the MB's attack on free speech and freedom of the press. On August 9, journalists in daily papers left their columns blank to protest the Shura Council's dismissal of the editors, and called on the country's TV channels to make a daily break in their broadcasts in order to raise public awareness of the issue. These journalists are protesting the state's ownership of numerous media outlets, as well as the Shura Council's exclusive authority to appoint the heads of the media, and calling to establish a politically independent council to fulfill this role. They are also calling to anchor the freedom of the media and press in the new Egyptian constitution, though reports leaked about the Constituent Assembly's deliberations suggest that its amendments are unlikely to satisfy them. Salafis and MB supporters held counterdemonstrations, demanding that the media be purged of loyalists of the previous regime and that new faces be brought in. The MB explained that the reshuffle had been necessary because the media was still serving the agenda of the old regime and did not identify with the goals of the revolution or reflect Egypt's Islamic character. This report reviews the MB's efforts to take control of the media, the criticism this has evoked, and the MB's responses to the criticism. To read the full report, click here. Special Dispatch No. 4905 Following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian cleric Mahdi 'Akef, former General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, which aired on Al-Kahera Wal-Nas TV on August 11, 2012. Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV. Mahdi 'Akef: "To hell with anyone who does not accept the Islamic rule that the people want. Why? Because the people should... We are a people who talk about democracy and the rule of the people..." Interviewer: "Does democracy mean the imposing of Islamic rule on the people?" To read the full report, click here. Special Dispatch No. 4904 Following are excerpts from a TV show, posted on the Internet on August 14, 2012, in which Egyptian cleric Hashem Islam, a member of the Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, issues a fatwa against potential demonstrators on August 24, and from a later TV show, which aired on Dream 1 TV on August 15. Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV. The Internet, August 14, 2012: Hashem Islam: "The revolution planned for August 24 is a par excellence revolution of kharijiteapostasy against democracy and freedom. I am currently working on a relevant fatwa." MEMRI Daily: August 22, 2012
Muslim Brotherhood Efforts To Take Over Egyptian Media
Columns left blank in Egyptian dailies to protest authorities' intervention in the mediaFormer General Guide Of The Muslim Brotherhood Mahdi 'Akef: To Hell With Anyone Who Does Not Accept Islamic Rule
Egyptian Cleric Hashem Islam Issues Fatwa Permitting The Killing Of Anti-Mursi Demonstrators
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
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