Officers from the interior ministry’s media monitoring bureau, military police and special police forces surrounded the office of online radio channel Radio Tram Friday night to check for the radio’s permits, according to a statement from Radio Tram.
Security forces searched the office, confiscated posters hung on the wall, and asked about the channel’s permits and political affiliation, Radio Tram reported Saturday. Homeland Security questioned the staff the next day.
“They treated us well and were glad with our work,” Reem El-Taib, Manager of Radio Tram, said. “They also asked us if we knew any other groups doing the same job in Alexandria. Officers from the interior ministry’s media monitoring bureau informed us that we need a permit from the smart village to allow us to play songs.”
The next day the team went to Homeland Security headquarters in Alexandria where officers asked them a number of detailed questions about their affiliations and opened a “follow up file” for the radio and requested to be informed of any new activity, El-Taib said.
Radio Tram is an online bi-lingual radio channel with a self-described “Unique Alexandrian Theme”. The online radio acts a podium for the underground music scene in Alexandria and posts updates for events, concerts, protests and volunteer work in the coastal city.
The Ministry of Interior declined to comment.
