Tawfeq Okasha, controversial TV anchor and founder of El Fara’een channel, said the Nile Sat administration refused to re-broadcast his channel, although he gained a court verdict allowing this.
According to El Fara’een’s media advisor Mohamed Moussa, Khaled Soliman, the channel’s legal advisor and Okasha’s lawyer, said he went to the headquarters of Nile Sat on Sunday, to inform its personnel of the ruling issued by administrative court on 20 October. Khaled added that Salah Hamza, chief executive officer of Nile Sat, alongside other Nile Sat personnel, refused to execute the ruling.
In contrast, a source inside Nile Sat explained that they will broadcast the channel when it pays its financial debts, which amount to EGP 4 million. The source also added that the Nile Sat administration met with Okasha several times, to schedule the debts. However, the channel and its owner, Okasha, didn’t comply with the dates of payment and the debt accumulated.
Okasha responded, in a press conference held on Monday in Ibn Khaldoun Center, saying he doesn’t have a money printing machine, explaining that the schedule was to pay his debts in August, September and October; when the channel had already been shut down.
He added that he is currently looking for another satellite to broadcast his channel, saying Nile Sat has violated freedom of opinion and expression.
“We will organise a sit-in in front of the Nile Sat headquarters on Wednesday, and we are calling every moral person to join us to acquire our rights and rebroadcast our channel.” concluded Okasha.
