Satirical Palestinian TV show ordered off air

Palestinian attorney general bans Watan ala Water after public servants and officials complained they were being ridiculed A popular satirical television show has been ordered off the air by the Palestinian attorney general after public servants and officials complained they were being ridiculed. Watan ala Water (Country on a String) is broadcast nightly throughout Ramadan, and the show has attracted a huge following for its mockery of Palestinian leaders , officials, corruption, nepotism and social attitudes. According to reports in the Palestinian media, complaints about the show were made by the head of the Palestinian Medical Association, the chief of police and the head of the anti-corruption authority. Ahmad Mughani, the attorney general, said the programme’s language was offensive and the show did not “serve the public interest” and was “harmful to Palestinian society”. It had crossed “red lines”, he said. Yasser Abed Rabbo, the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the chairman of Palestine TV, which broadcasts the show, said he would comply with the order. However, he told the Wafa news agency that “we will turn this matter into a public issue” and that the order “set a serious precedent”. The show’s star and scriptwriter told the Guardian last year that he had come under “tremendous pressure” to abandon the programme. “I feel there is a lot of electricity surrounding me. The programme bothers a lot of people,” said Imad Farajin. The show touched on “traditionally taboo issues”, he said. Palestinian territories Censorship Television Harriet Sherwood guardian.co.uk

Posted by on August 19, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.