"Baladna Bilmasry" ("Our Country, Egyptian Style") Talk Show: episode with Alaa al-Asswany

برنامج بلدنا بالمصري - علاء الأسواني يهاجم أحمد شفيق

Talk Show

This episode of the Baladna Bilmasry TV talk show became very famous for playing a part in the resignation of then prime minister Ahmed Shafiq. During this episode, the renown writer Alaa al-Asswany sharply criticised Shafiq, whilst TV broadcaster Hamdi Kandil called for his resignation, which happened the following day (3 March 2011). Aswany's and Kandil's attacks on a high-level government official was emblematic of the new found freedom in the period following the stepping down of former president Hosni Mubarak.

Shafiq served under the former regime of Hosni Mubarak and was appointed by Mubarak as PM on 29 January 2011, during the height of the 18 days of anti-regime protests. In the weeks following Mubarak's resignation, there were protests calling for Shafiq's resignation. Shafiq also ran against and narrowly lost to Mohamed Morsi in the 2012 presidential elections.

After 25 January 2011, Baladna Bil Masry, hosted by Reem Maged, became ONTV's top-rated talk show and was famous for critically discussing political developments after January 2011. In May 2011, Maged, alongside other journalists, was questioned by military prosecutors for criticising the military on the show. Maged was forced off the air after July 2013.

ONTV channel

Mohamoun bila Quyoud (Lawyers without Restrictions) via YouTube

Standard YouTube licence

Arabic

02/03/2011