CAIRO: Egyptian TV host Dina Abdel Rahman lost her job as the host of Dream TV's Sabah program, a morning news show on the channel after confronting a general on air for spreading rumors about public figures. Abdel Rahman was reportedly summoned by Ahmed Bahgat, the business guru who owns Dream TV, and was told that the morning's episode would be her last. The debacle began when Abdel Rahman received a phone cal on the air from General Abdel Moneim Kato, introduced as a “strategic expert,” who was angry at an article by writer Nagla'a Badeer, who in her article criticized comments from generals and other army affiliated officials. The general called Badeer a “vandaliser” at the beginning of his call. In Badeer's article, she was critical of Hassan al-Ruweini, the head of the military's “Central Area”, when he lashed out at protesters and 6 of April Movement, and did not mention Kato. Abdel Rahman confronted Kato about statements he had made earlier, accusing two presidential nominees of being “agents of the US.” He went on to say that “the armed forces are trying to teach the Egyptian people basic democracy.” Kato then continued on in his attack, saying in an authoritative tone that “when you want to review a writer, you ought to choose a respectful writer.” Abdel Rahman then asked the general to provide the program with a list of writers he thinks are “respectful.” The argument continued as general Kato shifted his attack on Tahrir square and the protesters who have been in the square since July 8, calling them “political thugs.” Abdel Rahman asked Kato if he ever visited Tahrir Square and he replied, “many times,” the last time being the “Friday of Retribution,” where the demands of a speedy trial of Mubarak and his aides were on top of the list for the protesters in Tahrir. “There are groups of people who are trying to seize power, including the 6 of April movement and the people in Tahrir,” Kato said. He added that “the crowd in Tahrir are a minority of the youth who made the revolution and a majority of political thugs, criminal thugs and vendors,” he said. The Supreme Council of Armed Force (SCAF) have named 6 of April as a group that has “suspicious plans” and that wishes the nation “harm.” Abdel Rahman intervened, saying that the program was there that Friday and saw families and others who have “legitimate demands and Egyptians hoping for a better country.” “Those are the people who you should focus on and not some woman writing anything,” Kato said. Abdel Rahman defended Badeer fearlessly, saying that “Naglaa Bedeer is a respectful writer, patriotic and honorable and if you knew nothing about her you could ask us or do research about her history so we are not throwing accusations such as vandaliser, agents, foreign money recipients or followers of foreign agendas,” she said. Soon after the news about Abdel Rahman's sacking spread, a large number of activists and viewers of her show showed their discontent on social networks like Twitter, where a popular hashtag #SolidarityWithDinaAbdelRahman was created in support. Many others called for boycotting Dream channels and Ahmed Bahgat, calling him a businessman who “oppresses freedom of press on his channels.” It is known that Bahgat started Dream TV in the 1990′s as an advertisement showcase for his business empire and later on moved to showing dramas and other programs. The channel is also known for it's editorial slant of not criticizing the SCAF and ousted President Mubarak during his time in power. BM
