Cairo – Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) issued a series of decisions Wednesday targeting television channels, programs, and individual media figures, including bans on the appearances of presenter Sarah Hady and physician Diaa Awad. The rulings, based on recommendations from the council’s complaints committee, aim to enforce media standards and address violations of broadcasting regulations, according to statements released by the SCMR.
The actions approach as the Egyptian government continues efforts to regulate the media landscape, a process that has drawn scrutiny from press freedom advocates. The SCMR, headed by Engineer Khaled Abdel Aziz, cited breaches of the law and ethical guidelines as justification for the penalties, which include fines and temporary suspensions. This latest move underscores the council’s commitment to enforcing compliance with Law No. 180 of 2018, governing the media sector.
The most prominent decisions involve a three-month ban on Sarah Hady, host of the “Al-Sirr fil Hodota” (The Secret in the Tale) program on “Al-Hadath Al-Youm” (The Daily Event) channel. The ban stems from the channel’s decision to host an individual accused of sexual harassment and subsequent discussion of the case details. “Al-Hadath Al-Youm” was also fined 50,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $1,600 USD as of March 11, 2026) for the incident, according to Al-Watan News.
In addition to the ban on Hady, the SCMR also prohibited the appearance of Dr. Diaa Awad, a physician, on all media outlets. This decision follows a ruling by the Egyptian Medical Syndicate to revoke Awad’s membership due to his dissemination of medically unverified information, which the council deemed potentially misleading and harmful to public health. Al Arabiya reported that the council cited concerns about public safety as the basis for the ban.
Financial Penalties Levied Against Multiple Channels
The SCMR’s rulings weren’t limited to individual personalities. “Al-Nahar” television channel was fined 150,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $4,800 USD) for violating broadcasting codes and failing to maintain complete recordings of its programs for a mandatory twelve-month period, as required by law. “Hi” television channel received a 100,000 Egyptian pound fine (approximately $3,200 USD) and a warning of potential license revocation for broadcasting content outside its designated specialization.
Further enforcement actions included the blocking of the “Al-Asima 24” (The Capital 24) website for operating without a license, in violation of Articles 59 and 6 of Law 180 of 2018. The SCMR also ordered the suspension of the “Hadith Masr” (Egypt Speaks) and “Al-Asima 24” accounts on social media platforms for spreading false news. The council has requested the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to implement these blocking measures.
The SCMR also indicated it would be contacting the Egyptian Media Syndicate to emphasize the importance of verifying qualifications and adherence to professional ethics before issuing media credentials. This move suggests a broader effort to raise standards within the Egyptian media industry.
The recent decisions by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation signal a continued tightening of control over the Egyptian media landscape. The long-term impact of these measures on freedom of expression and the diversity of viewpoints remains to be seen. Further developments are expected as the SCMR continues to address complaints and enforce regulations within the sector.
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