BBC explains NSF survey controversy

Fady Salah
2 Min Read
The National Salvation Front (NSF) Youth Movement held a protest on Saturday against Giza Governor Aly Abdel Rahman, claiming that he was appointed because he is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood (DNE File Photo)
NSF leaders hold a press conference (file photo) (DNE/ Mohamed Omar)
NSF leaders hold a press conference (file photo)
(DNE/ Mohamed Omar)

The BBC Arabic TV channel denied on Monday that the live survey they held on 1 February regarding the National Salvation Front (NSF) had asked questions regarding their popularity in Egypt.

The channel, which belongs to the BBC International Broadcasting Network, issued a press release on Monday describing Egyptian media reports which claimed the survey had dealt with the NSF’s popularity, as “inaccurate”.

Media reports claimed the BBC conducted a survey on the NSF’s popularity, adding that the results suggested 82% of Egyptians disliked the NSF, and believed the front does not represent them.

However, the press release explained that the survey conducted on the Noqtet Hiwar TV show dealt with the question of whether the NSF demands represent Egyptians or not, adding that the results were drawn only from programme audiences, who responded to the question online and through phone calls.

Notably, most of the survey’s responses rejected the NSF’s demands.

The BBC asserted that the results of the survey are by no means a comprehensive measurement of public opinion, as they represent the opinions only of those who watched the show and participated in the survey.

The survey is also open to participants from across the world who can submit their answers more than once, according to the release.

“We always explain to our audience that our surveys represent only a sample of opinions of those who watch the show,” said Mahmoud El-Kasas, chief editor of Noqtet Hiwar TV show.

Khaled Dawoud, media spokesperson for the NSF, claimed that the survey is not truly representative of Egyptian citizens, adding that he believes the NSF is gaining more popularity in the streets while the Muslim Brotherhood are losing the people’s support because of their failed leadership of Egypt thus far.

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