Egyptian TV show suspended over 'rude' remarks against women

His remarks against women shocked many in Egypt. Tamour al-Sobky, a TV show guest, said nearly a third of Egyptian women were unfaithful to their husbands.

But he says his comments were taken out of context.

After a barrage of public criticism, the show was suspended for 15 days.

Privately owned CBC on whose network the show aired, apologized saying in a statement that the video of Mr Sobky was part of a long discussion and the programme’s presenter immediately rejected and refuted his remarks.

The interview was aired in December on the Momken (Possible) programme, but went unnoticed until a clip was posted on social networks, generating public outcry.

In the excerpt, Tamour al-Sobky said “nearly 30% of women, especially in Upper Egypt tend to be unfaithful” and that “many women have extramarital affairs while their husbands work abroad to earn a living.”

He also said that women often cheated on their husbands because married life was boring and they were immoral.

Mr. Sobky, the administrator of a Facebook page known as “Diary of a suffering husband” with over 1 million followers apologised for his comments after receiving death threats.

He said his mother was also from Upper Egypt, a conservative region which is often the target of jokes.

But his apology has not convinced many. The association of Egyptian media has called on all television channels to boycott Mr. Sobky.

Momken is not the only television programme to have been suspended in recent years. Other TV shows have been taken off air for mocking the country’s military or president Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.