Egypt: TV channel with only fully-veiled women 'is part of fight against discrimination'

Cairo, 11 July (AKI) - A new satellite tv channel managed completely by women donning the niqab, or the full veil, will begin broadcasting operation on 20 July, the first day of the Ramandan holy month.

"It will be the most viewed during the month-long Ramadan," said Maria TV owner Abu Islam Ahmad Abdallah, in an interview with Adnkronos International.

The channel's name is a reference to Maria, the wife of Muslim prophet Maometto.

The idea for the channel came from "discrimination'' against women who wear the niqab, he said.

"A veiled woman applied for work at a television channel but didn't get the job. How come in that environment women wearing the niqab are victims of discrimination?'' he said. "For this reason I decided to start a channel and help pave their way in the hope that others follow my lead," Abdallah said.

The owner of the upstart station says he is reacting to an Egyptian media establishment which claims to support democracy, but doesn't accept divergence of opinions.