Egypt achieves record primary budget surplus of EGP 629bn despite sharp fall in Suez Canal revenues    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Resumption of production at El Nasr marks strategic step towards localising automotive industry: El-Shimy    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    United Bank achieves EGP 1.51bn net profit in H1 2025, up 26.9% year-on-year    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Egypt's Supreme Energy Council reviews power supply plans for 14 industrial projects    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, bilateral ties in calls with Saudi, South African counterparts    Egypt prepares to tackle seasonal air pollution in Nile Delta    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egyptian pound closes high vs. USD on Tuesday – CBE    Egypt, Colombia discuss medical support for Palestinians injured in Gaza    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Al-Balagh official says board only wanted to develop Islam Online
Published in Daily News Egypt on 02 - 04 - 2010

CAIRO: The issue at popular Islamic resource Islam Online (IOL) was part of a "plan to diversify the website's content and outreach and not an attack on the website's progressive approach to editorial content, according to Mohamed Badr El-Sada, one of IOL's founders and current board member of Qatar's Al-Balagh Foundation.
"We are not against the current direction [of IOL], he told Daily News Egypt in a telephone interview from Doha, a notion widely believed to have been the reason for the dispute.
Meanwhile, employees at the Cairo headquarters continued to strike Friday.
The strike, which started on March 15, was triggered by news of mass lay-offs and that contracts which end on March 31 will not be renewed.
IOL staff members have also told the media that the strike was against the fact that the new management at Al-Balagh holding company wanted to impose a more conservative tone on the website's progressive approach to editorial content.
El-Sada said that the decision to terminate the contracts of employees at IOL's office in Sixth of October City was part of a board decision to develop the website.
"If a media [outlet] does not develop every two or three years it will lose it's place because of strong competition, El-Sada said, adding that claims that Qatar wants to instigate a more conservative tone to the website's content are "nonsense.
According to El-Sada, reports issued last year by SKOPOS, a development consulting firm hired by Media International, the company under which IOL legally functions in Egypt, suggested that 60 percent of the website's readership comes from Cairo.
"It is inevitable that when you start something in a certain place it takes the shape and form of that place, El-Sada said.
He added that in recent years IOL's content has taken an "Egyptian taste whereas the initial goal was for IOL to carry an international message.
SKOPOS was hired as part of a larger development plan aimed at improving IOL, according to El-Sada.
Strike continues
Meanwhile, members of the Egypt staff continued their strike in a bid to restore editorial control over the website or find the means to start a new website.
Last Sunday, an agreement was signed by Yasser Fathy, the lawyer appointed by IOL staff, representatives from Media International and representatives from the Egyptian Ministry of Labor.
In line with clauses in the agreement, all employees received their March salaries, according to Ayman Qenawy, head of the English news section.
The agreement also states that all employees wishing to resign will receive their severance packages. Those who do not wish to resign shall continue working and will receive their monthly salaries on a regular basis.
Employees wishing to stay will take part in a new initiative that will take the form of an Initial Public Offering (IPO), inviting multiple shareholders in order to carry on with IOL's message.
According to Qenawy, employees have started brainstorming for a name for the new domain, the design and the website's sub sections.
He added that those who signed their resignation, who he said amount for less than 100 of the 300-some employees on strike, are due to receive their severance packages on Tuesday.
However, the strike will continue until access to the website is regained or "we are given the means to carry on with the new initiative, Qenawy said.
Access to the website's content has been barred to IOL staff since the start of strike.
According to El-Sada, IOL will continue operating from a virtual office around the world.
"New content and international writers will be added to our network in the next two or three months, El-Sada told Daily News Egypt.
While the Arabic content has been updated since the strike, the English content has remained stagnant.
In a statement released Monday, Cairo employees denounced calls by Ibrhaim Al-Ansary, head of the board of Al-Balagh, on Al Jazeera news channel to resign and then sign new contracts.
Meanwhile, according to El-Sada, some employees have already contacted Al-Balagh asking to continue to work for IOL.
"Whoever wants to join will be interviewed. We will start recruitment from scratch, he told Daily News Egypt, adding that under the development plan, Al-Balagh intended to reshuffle the current managerial and editorial board of IOL.
Budget claims
"During the last 10 years, the budget almost doubled from year to year which naturally raises question marks, he said, adding that the board of Al-Balagh had reservations about IOL's current staff, some of which he said did not have the credentials to work as journalists.
At the beginning of every year, the budget is drafted by IOL then sent to Al-Balagh for reviewing and approval.
However, claims that Al-Balagh is accusing Egypt's IOL staff of mismanaging funds have found its way to the media.
"With all due respect, the budget talk is rubbish, Qenawy told Daily News Egypt.
"We have two independent auditors who review the budget every year, he said, adding that there is no proof of funds being mismanaged.
Qenawy explained that what is proven in documents is Qatar's attack on the editorial content of IOL, an example of which is when the funders complained about the staff's coverage of Valentine's Day.
According to El-Sada, the reports by SKOPOS "only solidified the facts .
"The problem is when people speak with emotions they stop being logical, he added.


Clic here to read the story from its source.