CAIRO: The Cairo-based Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has condemned a ruling by Kuwait's information ministry to ban the television program Soatak Wasal, or Your Voice is Heard. The move comes after the comedy program aired three episodes this Ramadan and comes after Egypt banned a similar comedy show. The information rights group said in a press release that Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif was behind the banning of the Egyptian program and most likely gave the precedent for Kuwait to follow in their footsteps. Hukuma Show, or Cabinet Show, was banned in Egypt due to its criticism of the Egyptian government, notably Nazif himself. The Kuwaiti program is also critical of Kuwaiti officials and was taken off the air as a result, ANHRI believes. According to the press release, ANHRI says that the Kuwaiti ministry chose to ban the program after it issued a statement threatening to shut down any show that it deemed offensive to Kuwaiti government officials. In that statement, ANHRI says the government did not define “offensive” within a set of parameters. Back in Egypt, the country's Minister of Information decided to ban the entirety of the country's comedy program. ANHRI has lashed out, saying the move is a “blatant violation of freedom of expression and an unjust abuse of power.” Egypt maintains a tight grip on television production, especially during Ramadan, when millions of Egyptians and Arabs tune into watch programs especially designed for the post-fasting period during the Holy Month. But, ANHRI is not impressed. ANHRI stated in their press release that “appending the ministers and state officials to the restricted list and stretching the red line to include them renders freedom of expression void of any value. Banning of these programs and others to come, clearly discloses the stance of these ministries having become an oppression tool rather than being an endorser and a promoter of freedom of the media.” The media watchdog has called on both Egypt and Kuwait to reconsider their moves and “allow both transmissions back in support of freedom of expression, especially that the banned material is currently broadcasting on the Internet.” BM
