Egypt Threatens Arab TV Network
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Alex Wong/Getty Images(CAIRO) — Al Jazeera’s Egyptian television channel is now in the crosshairs of the interim government in that country.
According to Egypt’s state news agency MENA, three Cabinet ministers have charged Al Jazeera with posing a threat to national security.
The network’s offense appears to be allowing two Muslim Brotherhood leaders to make statements that include exhorting followers to protest against the military-backed regime.
Alleging that Al Jazeera is broadcasting without a license, the ministers said it would carry out legal measures against the network.
Al Jazeera head Ayman Gaballah contends that Egypt’s government doesn’t like the message so it’s trying to kill the messenger, adding that the charges of operating without a license are bogus.
Al Jazeera’s Cairo offices have been shut down since President Mohamed Morsi was ousted in early July but Egyptians continue receiving the channel from its Qatar-based studios.
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