One Egyptian man is leading a response to the islamist takeover of his nation,and has directly challenged the islamists: Hugely popular TV host, Tawfiq Akasha. He is facing charges of "inciting murder against Pres. Morsi", and other anti-islamist actions. When 16 Egyptian soldiers were murdered in Sinai by islamist forces last month, Akasha was ENRAGED by Morsi's apparent lack of concern,and ON THE AIR, warned Morsi NOT TO ATTEND the funerals of the slain soldiers. Akasha then claimed that Morsi and the islamists seek to kill him,and responded by stating that "Morsi's blood can aslo be shed": With a sneer, Egypt TV host challenges Islamists He emerged as one of the most popular television personalities of post-revolution Egypt by largely railing against the revolution, a bombastic conservative who every night mocked the country's "enemies" everyone from leftists and Islamists to Freemasons and Zionists with rants full of abuse and earthy humor. Now Tawfiq Okasha is presenting himself as the country's champion against a takeover by the Muslim Brotherhood, starting an open clash with the group and the new Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi. There are widespread worries among Egyptians that Morsi and the Brotherhood have amassed too much power, holding executive and legislative authorities as well as dominating the process of writing the next constitution. But the lightning-rod TV host is a divisive figure. Many secular politicians and activists who distrust the Brotherhood shun him, seeing him as a remnant of ousted President Hosni Mubarak's authoritarian regime. Some are convinced that Okasha is a front for the powerful security agencies of Mubarak's police state that are trying to maintain their influence. The controversy over Okasha was on display Friday, the day he and several other conservative figures had called for massive protests in a new "revolution" against the Brotherhood. Most of the activist groups that fueled last year's anti-Mubarak uprising refused to join. Many liberals have generally sought to work within the system to rein in the Brotherhood, recognizing Morsi's legitimacy as the country's first elected civilian president. Turnout Friday was small even if the crowds were vehement. About 3,000 demonstrated in front of Morsi's presidential palace in Cairo, chanting against "the Brotherhoodization of Egypt" and shouting, "Dissolution of the Brotherhood is the solution." Protests of similar size took place in several other cities. The protest comes as the duel between Okasha and the Brotherhood has escalated in recent weeks, as the Brotherhood-backed government has sought to take action against some of its most vehement critics in the media. Okasha is facing trial on charges of inciting for Morsi's murder, and the TV station that he owns and was his mouthpiece "Al-Faraeen," or "The Pharoahs" has been forced off the air. The charges came after Okasha launched an on-air tirade against Morsi, blaming him for an Aug. 5 attack by presumed Islamic militants who killed 16 Egyptian soldiers in Sinai. Okasha warned Morsi not to attend the soldiers' funeral for his own safety. He claimed the Brotherhood and Morsi plan to kill him and retorted, "Fine, I declare it permissible to shed your blood too." http://news.yahoo.com/sneer-egypt-tv-host-challenges-islamists-182906589.html Tawkiq Akasha's opposition seek to tie him to the fallen regime of Hosni Mubarek, but he was a string crtiic of that regime, also. One thing he DOES HAVE IN COMMON WITH MUBAREK, is a disdain for dragging Egypt back into the 7th century , via islamist sharia rule. The man has AMAZING COURAGE...and my unabashed admiration. THIS is WHO the US governemt should be supporting, IMO....
Indeed. Fascist regimes cannot tolerate dissent.....most especially, unapologetic public dissent. I suspect he'll be made an example of at some point as well.
Islamists will gut him like a fish to show how beautiful the religion of peace really is. This is a very quiet thread. Usually, progressives are all for people speaking out. _
