DOHA: Egyptian authorities have banned Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr in the country.
The ministers of investment, telecommunication and information issued a statement, saying the channel was banned because it does not have legal permission to work in the country, Al Ahram Online reported yesterday.
The channel had been using unlicensed broadcasting devices, the statement said, accusing it of spreading lies and rumours damaging national security and unity.
On August 15, the cabinet asked the three ministries to check the channel’s legal status.
Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr’s offices in Cairo have been closed since July 3 and is broadcasting from Qatar. The channel that started broadcasting in 2011 focuses mainly on Egypt. It has been criticised by some observers for being biased towards the Muslim Brotherhood.
Meanwhile, four journalists from Al Jazeera English were arrested on Tuesday night, while covering events in Cairo and still remain in custody, Al Jazeera said in a statement yesterday.
Al Jazeera asked authorities to release the journalists immediately and said Cairo is responsible for their safety and security. Six Al Jazeera journalists have been arrested since the military take-over. The Peninsula
