Owner of belly dancing TV station arrested

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 13 years ago

CAIRO: An Egyptian security official says vice police have arrested the owner of a TV station that broadcasts belly dancing 24 hours a day for allegedly operating without a license, inciting licentiousness and facilitating prostitution.

The official says ElTet station owner Baligh Hamdy was taken into custody Thursday (May 17) in Cairo after authorities received viewer complaints.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to brief the media.

ElTet broadcasts videos of belly dancers, often in racy outfits, and carries advertisements for sexual enhancement products and love messages.

While belly dancing is a quintessential Egyptian art form, and is legally performed in hotels and clubs, the country has grown more conservative over the years.- AP

Don't Miss These

Pope warns Italian intelligence against smearing journalists

December 13, 2025: Pope Francis warns Italian intelligence to avoid smearing journalists and respect confidentiality, amid concerns over spyware, leaks, and surveillance targeting reporters and rights defenders.

Trial of Meydan TV journalists opens in Baku

December 13, 2025: Trial proceedings against Meydan TV journalists have opened in Baku, raising concerns among press freedom groups about pressure on independent and foreign-funded media outlets.

Italy media leaders weigh sale of Gedi assets amid newsroom unrest

December 12, 2025: Gedi’s talks to sell key Italian editorial assets to Greece’s Antenna Group spark newsroom strikes and government scrutiny over media pluralism, foreign ownership, and editorial independence.

Lawmakers decry lack of accountability for attack on journalists

December 12, 2025: U.S. lawmakers and rights groups at the Capitol rally for accountability after a deadly 2023 attack on journalists in Lebanon, citing closed probes and no formal investigations into press deaths and injuries.

Independent Media challenges funding rules in South Africa

December 11, 2025: Independent Media in South Africa has appealed funding eligibility rules tied to press-council oversight, raising wider questions about platform grants and regulatory compliance in global media.

Journalist deaths rise sharply in 2025, Gaza leads toll

December 09, 2025: The 2025 report from Reporters Without Borders records 67 journalists killed worldwide, nearly half in Gaza, highlighting escalating risks for reporters in war zones, crime-ridden regions, and authoritarian states.

Online abuse of women journalists hits new global high

December 09, 2025: A new UN Women report finds 70 percent of women journalists and activists worldwide face online violence, with 42 percent reporting offline harm linked to digital attacks, raising serious press freedom concerns.

Brighton Football Club bars Guardian in access dispute

December 09, 2025: Brighton’s ban on Guardian journalists after critical reporting raises press freedom concerns and highlights growing tensions between sports institutions and independent news outlets in the UK.

Newsroom

China charges journalist Du Bin under public order offense

December 13, 2025 China has formally charged veteran journalist and documentary maker Du Bin with picking quarrels and provoking trouble, a public order offense critics say is used to silence media.

Media bodies condemn ad ban on Dawn TV and radio

December 13, 2025 Pakistani media bodies have condemned the government’s unannounced ban on advertisements to Dawn Media Group’s TV and radio outlets, calling it an attack on press freedom.

RT India deletes video of Shahbaz Sharif waiting to meet Putin

December 13, 2025 RT India deletes a viral video showing Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif allegedly waiting for Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it a misrepresentation of events.

Deepfakes fuel spread of health misinformation online

December 13, 2025 Deepfake videos impersonating doctors are spreading health misinformation online, raising urgent concerns for public health, social media platforms, and newsroom verification efforts.

EU fines X 120 million euros for deceptive blue check practices

December 13, 2025 The European Commission fines X 120 million euros under the Digital Services Act for deceptive blue check practices, ad transparency failures, and limiting researcher access to public data.