A Muslim Brotherhood-aligned Egyptian opposition TV channel on Saturday announced it was shutting down its Turkish headquarters in light of what it referred to as "circumstances that are not hidden from anyone."
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The announcement from the Mekameleen Satellite Channel came as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Jedda to meet with King Salman and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Thursday's trip was the first such visit since Turkey and Saudi Arabia cut off ties following the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.
Diplomatic sources told the pan-Arab Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper that within the framework of talks toward a Turkish-Saudi détente, Cairo had demanded Ankara shut down all Egyptian opposition TV channels operating on its soil. It was further reported that Cairo had expressed concerns Ankara would use these channels as battering rams should bilateral ties once against deteriorate. Now the assessment is that Erdogan has accepted the Egyptians' request at least in part.
At the same time, Erdogan on Saturday said his country was willing to develop ties with Egypt in the same way it was engaging in dialogue with Israel.
In a statement on Twitter, Mekameleen management said it had decided to "move the transmission, studios and all activities of the channel to outside of Turkey, where it will launch anew from different locations across the globe."
It said, "Mekameleen Satellite Channel has been keen since its launch about eight years ago to be a voice for truth and a podium for all our beloved people. We have been with you in the important events through which Egypt and the Arab region have been through to relay the full picture and spread awareness and the values of justice and freedom and to be a voice for the oppressed and the detainees."
Turkish-Saudi ties began to deteriorate when the Muslim Brotherhood was ousted from power in Egypt in a military coup in 2013. Erdogan, who heads the Justice and Development Party, which is aligned with the Islamist movement, granted asylum to members of the movement. Since the Egyptian military took power in the country, Muslim Brotherhood members have faced arrest and the organization's leaders have been sentenced to life in prison.
It is still, however, too early to say whether this spells the end for Erdogan's Muslim Brotherhood ties. Erdogan's wooing of Arab states, along with efforts to improve ties with Israel, comes as Turkey finds itself in a state of financial crisis. Should Turkey's economy improve and Erdogan succeed in the June 2023 elections, we may yet see another change in Turkey's position.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
