An administrative court ruled on Saturday that the government must renew the license of Qatari-owned news channel Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr.
The channel said it had applied for the renewal of its license in April 2011, but the renewal was refused without any reason being given, which it said was against the law of investment guarantees.
Official sources at the channel had said in previous press statements that Egyptian authorities, particularly during the rule of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, refused to renew the license, which prompted the channel to broadcast from Doha.
Security forces twice stormed the channel's offices in September 2011 and confiscated equipment. The government justified the raid by saying that the channel was operating without the proper permits.
The channel was the target of frequent raids and harassment under former President Hosni Mubarak's rule. Egyptian authorities briefly shut down the channel during the 25 January revolution, accusing it of inciting the protests that ultimately forced Mubarak out.
