Mona Iraqi defends her show, reveals being raped in childhood

CAIRO - 23 February 2018: Controversial anchor Mona Iraqi was hosted by BBC Arabic “Betawket Masr” or “Egypt’s time” TV show, which was the first time to appear on TV after being banned from appearing on TV over sexually-charged remarks.

Iraqi said that she has joined the international hashtag #Me_too by admitting that she was raped when she was only 10 years old, adding that the pain of the rape is only felt by the person who has experienced it, and many celebrities around the world has confessed being raped or harassed, but the conservative culture in the Arab world is a hindrance concerning women expressing what they have been through.



Iraqi caused controversy after her episode on February 12 of the program “Entebah” (Attention), which was broadcasted on Mehwar TV channel; she explored the subject of incest, featuring a woman whose male childeren had been raped by her husband, along with their daughter, who later committed suicide.

Iraqi wondered in her program why men are always the ones who are raping, adding that men always show their affection through sex, unlike women, and describing such acts as “animalistic”.

Yahiya el-Konaisy, board member of the National Broadcasting Authority, referred Iraqi for investigations, while the latter said that she “welcomes” the syndicates’ decision.

Also, Mehwar TV’s board has released a statement condemning Iraqi’s remarks, which are at odds with the values of the Egyptian society.

Iraqi told BBC that she doesn’t regret what she said during her show but maybe she was mistaken in the way she presented it.

Controversial Mona Iraqi banned from air over incest episode

CAIRO - 15 February 2018: Controversial anchor Mona Iraqi was ordered to be tentatively banned from appearing on TV over sexually-charged remarks. During the episode on February 12 of the program "Entbah" (Attention), which was broadcasted on Mehwar TV channel, Iraqi explored the subject of incest, featuring a woman who had her male kids raped by her husband, along with their daughter, who later committed suicide.

The Court is scheduled for March 18 to prosecute Iraqi, on charges of committing a blatant act of public defamation, defamation of the Egyptian man and publishing false news.

In 2016, Iraqi experienced a firestorm for a famous episode in which she claimed that Cairo-based Beit el-Bahr hammam (traditional steam bath) is a homosexual meeting place.

Earlier this month The administrative council of Egypt’s Media Syndicate decided to suspend Amany el-Khayat, host of the ONTV show “Beyn Al-Sotor” (Between the Lines), for one month, and to suspend Ahmed el-Sherif, host of LTC show “Malaab El Sherif” (Sherif’s Pitch), for three weeks, Hamdi al-Konaysi, head of the Media Syndicate, said in a statement on February 16.

Amany el-Khayat suspended over Oman remarks

CAIRO - 16 February 2018: The administrative council of Egypt's Media Syndicate decided to suspend Amany el-Khayat, host of the ONTV show "Beyn Al-Sotor" (Between the Lines), for one month, and to suspend Ahmed el-Sherif, host of LTC show "Malaab El Sherif" (Sherif's Pitch), for three weeks, Hamdi al-Konaysi, head of the Media Syndicate, said in a statement on Thursday.