Egypt Bans Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera’s Egyptian affiliate received a court order on Tuesday forcing it to stop broadcasting. Three other stations were also kicked off the air. The stations have covered the Muslim Brotherhood protests since former President Morsi was deposed.

Government officials called Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr’s broadcasts a national threat. They claim the station operated without a permit and accused it of spreading rumors.

The Al Jazeera affiliate has covered the Muslim Brotherhood protests filling Egypt’s streets since the military coup that ousted Morsi on July 3. It also reported on the millions who took to the streets demanding Morsi’s ouster before the coup.

Egyptian officials and media claim the station is biased toward the Brotherhood. Al Jazeera denies the accusation.

But an Egyptian lawyer says Al Jazeera was not objective in its reporting of protests. He says the reports are inciting violence against the regime.

The other three stations that were ordered to stop broadcasting also covered the Morsi protests and are considered pro-Islamist.

Although Egypt now bans Al Jazeera, America welcomed its broadcasts to American cable viewers on August 20. The American affiliate station has access to 48 million American homes, which is roughly half of the country’s cable subscribers.

Has Al Jazeera changed since 2001 when Osama bin Laden used it to broadcast to the world? Or is the change with America? To understand more, read “Al Jazeera America Broadcasts on Cable TV.”