Egypt seeks end to pro-Brotherhood TV, groups abroad
Ahram Online, , Sunday 1 Feb 2015
Egypt's foreign ministry warns against Brotherhood entities abroad, wants France to shut down channels linked with the group



Egypt's foreign ministry is seeking to shut down satellite channels it says are linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, and urged countries not to deal with Brotherhood-linked groups, the ministry said in statements issued on Sunday.

The ministry is conducting extensive talks with France where it says the Brotherhood-linked television channels are being aired from, and is seeking "firm action" against them.

Egypt says that the channels, which it did not name in the statement, are aired on France's Eutelsat and accused them of terrorism, inciting murder and calling for the destruction of legitimate state institutions. Egypt mentioned "precedents wherein Eutelsat has closed down similar channels due to inciting hate speech."

Qatari satellite station Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr, a major sympathizer of the Brotherhood, was taken off the airwaves in December in a move many thought reflected pressure on the Qatari government by Egypt and some Gulf States. Most Gulf States back Egypt's current government which is headed by former army chief, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

Al Jazeera is trying to get an official license from authorities in Egypt to operate. Channels backing the Brotherhood on Eutelsat include Mekamileen and Masr Al-An, which are also accessible through Egypt's Nilesat.

In another statement, the ministry warned of two Brotherhood-linked groups it said were called the Revolution's Parliament and the Egyptian Revolutionary Council. The ministry accused them of claiming to represent the Egyptian people and inciting violence.

"Some members of these entities are wanted for trial and are visiting many states to promote wrongful and extremist ideas ..... as well as making efforts to shore up support for malicious goals to destroy the Egyptian state," the ministry stated.

The statement refrained from specifying which countries it accused these groups of meeting with.

The Muslim Brotherhood was declared a terrorist organisation by the Egyptian government in 2013, months after the ouster of Mohamed Morsi-who hails from the group- as Egypt's president.

The group has since faced a relentless crackdown by authorities and its top leadership are on trial for several charges including inciting murder and espionage.




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