Post by peterd on Aug 22, 2012 11:34:28 GMT -8
Muslim Brotherhood Efforts To Take Over Egyptian Media
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.[1] 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.
www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/6614.htm
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.[1] 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.
www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/6614.htm