PrintEgypt shuts down Al Jazeera bureau
Sort of a good news-bad news scenario. Evidently, the Egyptian people had been tapping into the AJ reporting on the revolt and the authorities figured out that what was being disseminated was not helpful to the regime.
Interesting to read AJ live blogging events. They have been on top of just about everything that has been going on all over the country. And their sources inside the Egyptian government are far superior to anything the west has to offer.
For instance, AJ is reporting today:
3 pm: Al Jazeera's producer in Egypt says reports are circulating that the country's interior minister has been arrested by the army.If true - and like most Arab news outlets the publishing of rumors and scuttlebutt is not unknown - that might indicate a clear path to power for the army. The Interior Minister is in charge of the thug police who apparently are doing almost all of the shooting that have killed at least 102 people in the last 2 days. Then again, it may just be wishful thinking.
Now, AJ's bureau in Cairo has been shuttered and their reporters are no longer accredited:
"Al Jazeera sees this as an act designed to stifle and repress the freedom of reporting by the network and its journalists," the statement said."In this time of deep turmoil and unrest in Egyptian society it is imperative that voices from all sides be heard; the closing of our bureau by the Egyptian government is aimed at censoring and silencing the voices of the Egyptian people.
"Al Jazeera assures its audiences in Egypt and across the world that it will continue its in-depth and comprehensive reporting on the events unfolding in Egypt.
"Al Jazeera journalists have brought unparallelled reporting from the ground from across Egypt in the face of great danger and extraordinary circumstances. Al Jazeera Network is appalled at this latest attack by the Egyptian regime to strike at its freedom to report independently on the unprecedented events in Egypt."
Surprisingly, there has been very little America and Israel bashing in the live coverage on the internet. Can't speak for what's going out over the TV which, given their history, is probably an anti-American carnival.
Even with the anti-Western bias, you've gotta give the devil his due; they are one of the only sources of extensive on the ground coverage in Egypt during this crisis.
How reliable the information is another question. But they have plenty of video from protestors so at least some of what they are reporting can be verified. And the fact that the authorities have shut them down means that their coverage was having an impact on the protestors.
