ERTU “suspends” free-talking TV host
November 11, 2015
By Chris Forrester
Egypt’s public broadcaster has suspended a popular female TV host because she criticised the country’s president on air.
Officially, veteran host Azza El-Hanawy, has been suspended because of a “lack of neutrality and objectivity”.
On air, the Channel 3 host of its weekly Cairo News show that was examining corruption in the country, said that President El-Sisi should look into the issue. She added that because “the president appoints state officials,” he should also be answerable to the same standards.
In a media statement the next day, the head of ERTU Essam El-Amir said action was taken against her because she “went off the script” and “expressed personal views on a news programme.”