Media Syndicate suspends TV host Ahmed Moussa

CAIRO – 22 October 2017: The Media Syndicate decided to suspend the program “On my Responsibility” presented by TV host Ahmed Moussa during an emergency meeting held on Sunday after airing inaccurate recordings on the Giza clashes of Friday.

The Syndicate suspended Moussa until investigations were completed; following criminal conduct procedures before the Public Prosecution, according to Head of Media Syndicate Hamdi al-Kenisi.

Moussa aired on Saturday on his TV show on Sada El-Balad a recording of an unidentified individual narrating alleged details from the Giza clashes. The recording raised controversy on social media; prompting the Media Syndicate to hold an immediate meeting to investigate the incident.

The inaccurate details that aired on Moussa’s show are a violation to basic media regulations that are based on the reliability of a source; especially when concerned with issues relating to National Security, al-Kenisi stated. He added that these recordings serve to demolish Egypt, not build it; referring that the Syndicate should combat these violations.

The Ministry of Interior urged newspapers and mass media agencies to check the accuracy of news with official sources of the ministry; pointing out that spreading such recordings confuses public opinion and reflects the media’s lack of responsibility.

The ministry also demanded that mass media agencies ignore those recordings and refrain from relying on them as sources of information.

Seventeen security personnel were killed and 15 others were injured during a raid on a militant hideout near the Giza-Al Wahat Road in the Giza governorate. According to security sources, the police forces are still deployed around the area to observe terrorist elements. The desert road was closed from both directions with a number of checkpoints planted there to besiege any fleeing terrorists.