Minister of Information Osama Heikal hit out at Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr, whose office was raided by national security police on 9 September, its transmissions stopped ever since.
Heikal denied that the procedures undertaken against Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr was part of a bigger plan to muzzle the media, saying the Qatari satellite channel “forced” its existence in Egypt and did not respect the law.
“It’s about respecting the authorities,” he said. “Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr forced its entry in Egypt without respecting the law or the nation.
“Its office in Egypt was illegally opened, the owners did not ask for permission from anyone and did not acquire the three compulsory licences to launch this channel.
“This channel was operating against the will of the authorities and the law, and it had to be shut down, pursuant to the rules," he said.
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