Renowned TV host Yousry Fouda announced on his Facebook page Friday the suspension of his popular nightly show in protest of what he feels is state censorship.
Fouda's scheduled episode on the OnTV channel on Thursday night was supposed to analyze a Wednesday television interview with two Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) members that had aired on the Dream TV channel. That interview was hosted by Mona al-Shazly and Ibrahim Eissa.
“I was and will remain proud of what OnTV and its youth did despite all difficulties, just like I am proud of any free and bold voice who is not scared by anyone. Despite the fact that I can’t think of any other alternative path for myself, I have a lot of reasons to indefinitely suspend my show, 'Last Words,'” Fouda wrote on his Facebook page.
Fouda’s planned to interview author Alaa al-Aswany and Eissa to analyze the generals' comments, which was made public via the channel’s online social media outlets. According to a journalist working on Fouda’s show, the plan was to not air “Last Words” on Wednesday in order to watch the SCAF members on Dream TV and to resume the following day. But then Thursday's episode was mysteriously canceled.
Some viewers criticized SCAF generals Mahmoud Hegazy and Mohamed al-Assar for defending the interim cabinet of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, which has been condemned for being unable to restore security and fix the country’s economic hardships. The generals also denounced allegations that their soldiers were responsible for the violence that left at least 27 protesters dead near Maspero on 9 October during a Coptic-led protest.
The journalist working with Fouda, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the SCAF pressured OnTV to change the focus of Thursday’s show and expressed their opposition to Fouda's guests. According to the journalist, military officials have been exerting mounting pressure on the channel’s management, particularly to tame Fouda’s critical show.
Fouda's statement was critical of the SCAF's intimidation. "Much of the pre-revolutionary mentality is still imposed on us,” Fouda's statement read. “There are certain attempts to maintain the core of the old regime through many methods, including both direct and indirect pressure."
In a statement on Twitter, OnTV said, “"The channel hasn't suspended the show. Yousry Fouda's statement shows he is not confronting the channel, but an environment hostile to freedoms. We totally support him."
“This is my way of applying self-censorship: To say something worthwhile or to remain silent,” Fouda continued.
Fouda ended his note by saying he believes “Egypt deserves much better.”
Fouda previously hosted Aswany for a marathon interview with former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, who was nominated to his post in the final days of toppled President Hosni Mubarak's regime in an attempt to quell revolutionary protests. Aswany vehemently criticized Shafiq in the interview, and he was sacked from his position the following day.
Military-driven censorship over the media has recently raised tempers, following the summoning of several journalists by the ruling military council over claims that they are not operating with proper licenses. Many believe this is in response to critical coverage and the closure of some TV channels.
