Anti-revolution Egyptian channel is back on air after shutdown

Ahram Online, Saturday 20 Oct 2012

Tawfiq Okasha's notorious Al-Faraeen channel will resume transmission until the court makes a decision on the bigger issue: Brotherhood's case against him for inciting violence

Okasha
TV Anchor Tawfik Okasha during one of his trials last September, Cairo (Photo: AP)

Egypt's administrative court ruled on Saturday to allow the notorious Al-Faraeen channel back on air until the case against it is decided.

The court approved the petition by Tawfiq Okasha, the channel's owner, to be allowed to operate until the final verdict is given.

The larger matter of the case was adjourned to 10 November, postponing the channel's fate until then.

Al-Faraeen channel was blocked from transmitting for at least a month starting 9 August on orders of Egyptian state authorities.

The order comes following a lawsuit filed by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), which accused Okasha of inciting violence against the Brotherhood and encouraging attacks on President Mohamed Morsi, who hails from the Brotherhood's ranks.

This is not the first time Al-Faraeen has been taken off air. In January, it was temporarily closed following a dispute over its transmission license.

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