CAIRO: “I have never heard of anyone who was asked to leave Egypt during President [Hosni] Mubarak’s rule, popular Muslim televangelist Amr Khaled told the daily Al-Dostour.
Khaled, who has repeatedly told the media that he has not been banned from entering Egypt after a June 3 report alleged that State Security ordered him to leave the country, appeared on Amr Adeeb’s talk show “Al Qahera Al Youm Tuesday night.
Khaled told Adeeb to ask Al-Hayah satellite channel why they will not broadcast his show “Al-Mujaddidun (a reality show in search of young preachers); ask Al-Mehwar channel why they will not broadcast “Stories from the Quran and ask Al-Masry Al-Youm daily about the source of the news published about his alleged forced departure.
Magdy El-Gallad, Al-Masry Al-Youm’s editor-in-chief, called in to the show, saying that the paper’s news was accurate and “Amr Khaled knows that very well.
“There is confidential information that I will disclose to the public if Amr allows me, and it will prove the accuracy of Al-Masry Al-Youm once and for all, said El-Gallad.
Khaled quickly interrupted and said no, adding that he is currently trying to “diffuse this “crisis.
It was reported that his show, “Stories from the Quran, was the main reason behind these allegations because it compared the story of Moses to politics today as well as “Pharaoh-like Arab rulers.
However, Khaled said that “Stories from the Quran will still be broadcast on television.
His campaign against poverty, Ensan (Human), was stopped in Egypt for allegedly competing with a similar campaign spearheaded by the ruling National Democratic Party.
Ensan will continue operating in Sudan, Jordan, Algeria and Yemen.
Khaled first denied the paper’s allegations about his leaving Egypt to the news portal Islamonline.net. He also sent a letter to the daily saying that he hasn’t received any orders to leave but he is no longer allowed to give classes or lectures in Egypt.
“I have the freedom to leave, enter [Egypt] and live in my home and my country; however, I’m not allowed to give any classes or lectures at mosques or any other place that offers to host me – and I was not given a reason for this [decision], Khaled wrote.
Known for being moderate and reaching out to Arab youth, Khaled is considered to have revolutionized Islamic preaching.
In 2002 he was allegedly asked to leave the country because his growing influence was seen as a threat. Five years later Khaled, who presents several television programs, ranked number 13 on Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
