Egypt

Ministers defend decision to order closure of Al Jazeera channel

Egypt's ministers of investment, communications, information technology and media have condemned Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr for operating "without legal status or professional standards," the same day it was announced the channel had been closed in Egypt.

"[The channel] is not authorized to operate in Egypt," the ministers said in a Thursday statement.

Opponents of the Muslim Brotherhood accuse the Qatari-owned channel of supporting the Islamist group as well as its toppled president, Mohamed Morsy.
 
The ministers said in a joint statement on Thursday that they would implement a Cabinet decision from 15 August.
 
The Cabinet assigned authorities to take legal action against Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr, claiming it poses a threat to Egyptian national security.
 
"Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr does not have legal status to exist in Egypt…and did not get any of the licenses and permits needed prior to operating on Egyptian territory," the ministers added in the statement.
 
Al Jazeera is using unlicensed equipment for broadcast, they claimed.
 
Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera has been accused of spreading false allegations and rumours since the overthrow of Mohamed Morsy as Egyptian president on 3 July.
 
The channel posed a threat to the unity of the country and the safety of popular solidarity, the ministerial statement added.
 
 

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