Egypt shuts down 12 channels

Egyptian authorities have ordered satellite operator Nilesat to shut down 12 private television channels on the grounds of violating broadcasting licences.

The news comes ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections and is the country’s latest media crackdown. Earlier this month, Egypt’s Media Free Zone, which is the area set up by the Egyptian Radio and Television Union, the Egyptian Media Production City and Nilesat to encourage commercial broadcasting, ordered the suspension of five channels, accusing them of breaching broadcasting ethics.

Information Minister Annas el-Fiqi reportedly described the ban by the satellite operator as “corrective measures” and NileSat also warned 20 other channels to obey the rules.