Egypt bans TV interview with corruption whistle-blower

A rare TV interview with Egypt's former chief auditor, who went on trial after publicly alleging massive government corruption, has been banned.

Hesham Genena, whom Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi sacked from his post after he spoke out against corruption in March, told journalists on Sunday that Al-Mehwar TV network cancelled the entire episode of the "90 minutes" talk show without giving any reasons.[embed:render:embedded:node:19835]

Al-Mehwar has been airing promos for the interview for several days and it was due to be aired on Saturday night. Instead the network replaced it with a soap opera.

Attempts to reach the programme's host and the channel's owner were unsuccessful.

Genena has been sentenced to one year in prison and a fine for "spreading false news."    (AP)

Related articles on Qantara.de:

Egypt's economic and fiscal crisis: Rescuing the sinking ship

Al-Sisi, Raba′a and al-Nahda: Egypt′s grim harvest

Sisi and the European Union: The long arm of the dictator