CAIRO: The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has slammed what it sees as the current tone of hostility adopted by some religious figures, citing popular televangelist Khaled El-Guindi's "inflammatory discourse against Egyptian Bahais. "For someone to call himself a preacher, to use the name of Al-Azhar to promote his private channel and to make a fortune out of what he calls an Islamic hotline, this is strictly his business which he has the right to. But he has absolutely no right to use hostile discourse against a community of Egyptian citizens and to stir suspicion as to their integrity and their loyalty to their country. We refuse these cheap shots, said Gamal Eid, ANHRI's executive director. El-Guindi made his allegedly discriminatory statements in an interview with El-Youm El -Sabea newspaper to publicize his new television channel "Azhari. "Bahais are apostates and infidels, El-Guindi said in the interview. When contacted by the Daily News Egypt, El-Guindi wasn't available for comment. Azhari started airing in Ramadan even though the Egyptian government had denied it broadcasting rights on the state-owned Nilesat satellite. The channel aimed to fight stereotypes against Islam, and to teach the real Islam, which is innocent of terrorism, as El-Guindy said in his talk show on Azhari. In it he discusses religious topics with popular figures from all walks of life, including actors, journalists and media celebrities. The channel, named after Al-Azhar, the highest religious authority in Sunni Islam, airs a variety of shows hosted by Al-Azhar scholars. El-Guindi, described as "pro-security preacher by ANHRI, was previously criticized by human rights activists for giving similar "inflammatory statements against Sudanese refugees prior to the day when over 30 Sudanese protestors died after a security crackdown in what is known as the "Mostafa Mahmoud Square blood bath and whose offenders are still at large, said ANHRI. ANHRI urged that the media shouldn't be a platform for people to make such statements that incite hatred in society. The group noted that, "Supporting freedom of expression and freedom of the press is not an excuse to promote hostile discourse against citizens because of their race, color or religion.
