Satellite Channel to Challenge 'Islamic Extremism'

A new free-to-air satellite television channel based in Egypt will promote moderate Islam and challenge notions of extremism when it launches in August, according  to its founders, which include Muslim clerics associated with Egypt’s Al-Azhar University.

Sheikh Khaled el-Guindy, a member of Egypt's Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs and a driving force behind the "Azhari" channel, told the Associated Press the channel would leverage the talents of Al-Azhar graduates to combat incorrect interpretations of the religion.

"Azhari will promote the idea that Islam is a religion of moderation free from extremism," he said.

"Several satellite channels right now promote a strict interpretation of Islam and issue incorrect religious opinions that fill young people with extremist ideas.

New channel for moderate Islam to be launched

Al-Azhar announces launch of new satellite channel to challenge extremist distortions of Islam.

Middle East Online

By Paul Schemm - CAIRO

Azhari is set to be launched in mid-August A group of Muslim clerics connected with Egypt's prestigious Al-Azhar University have announced the creation of a new satellite channel to propagate moderate Islam and challenge what it describes as extremist distortions of the religion. The announcement comes just ahead of President Barack Obama's address Thursday to the Muslim world from Cairo in a speech co-sponsored by Al-Azhar University, Sunni Islam's premier educational institution. Sheik Khaled el-Guindy, a member of Egypt's Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs and a driving force behind the "Azhari" channel, said the idea is to use the knowledge and skills of Al-Azhar graduates to combat ignorant interpretations of the religion. "Azhari will promote the idea that Islam is a religion of moderation free from extremism," he told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "Several satellite channels right now promote a strict interpretation of Islam and issue incorrect religious opinions that fill young people with extremist ideas." There are dozens of Islamic satellite channels in the Middle East, with many receiving funding from the conservative oil-rich Gulf and propagating a very conservative form of the religion. "Audiences need people that deal in reality and respect reality and respect changes in the world. These channels don't present these things. Some of these channels are just ignorant of reality," said el-Guindy, explaining that graduates of al-Azhar university are well grounded in subjects outside of religion as well. Azhari is set to be launched in mid-August, at the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and will present a mix of entertainment and educational programing, including children's cartoons, soap operas and call-in shows. The channel will initially be broadcast in English and Arabic, with plans to expand it to Turkish and Hindi, and will be viewable from Europe to Southeast Asia. "The idea is to really show moderate Islam, not this extreme one that is being utilized by others," said Hassan Tatanaki, a Libyan businessman who helped provide the channel's $2.7 million in initial funding. "Our aim is to be able to reach not only the Arab Muslims, but the non-Arab Muslims, mainly in the Far East, the Near East, places like the US and Europe."

Al-Azhar plans satellite television channel about Islam

 Dressed in his robe and turban, Sheikh Khaled Al-Guindy sits in the plush offices of the main benefactor of his new satellite television channel and speaks about how modern technology can be turned to service for Islam. The al-Azhar scholar, who in 2000 launched a phone-in service for Muslims seeking religious guidance, is one of the founders of Azhari, a 24-hour channel due to launch on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which this year will start in mid-August.

The channel will be broadcast on both main satellite channels operating in Egypt and will be accessible worldwide. It will initially transmit in Arabic with some English and French programming and there are plans to add content later in Urdu and Turkish. Azhari received its initial 15 million Egyptian pounds funding from a Libyan businessman and philathropist, Hassan Tatanaki.
Guindy told Reuters the plan really got going about a month ago, when he officiated at the wedding of Tatanaki’s daughter. “The father of the bride and I forgot completely about that wedding and started to talk about a new wedding, about how to introduce this new channel to the rest of the world,” he said.


Guindy is hopeful that a new age, which he dubs the Age of Obama, is dawning in which a dialogue between Islam and the West will flourish. And he hopes his channel will play an important role in that conversation. Yet for all his modern touches, Guindy retains a deeply traditional side. He preferred to conduct our interview not in English or everyday modern Arabic, but in precise classical Arabic.

Libyan Awalan TV

Hassan Tatanaki

Hassan Tatanaki on Challenger's history and plans for future expansion, as well as the benefits and difficulties presented by operating in Libya.

Another Interview-please watch!

Libya businessman Hassan Tatanaki Aiding Fellow Libyans

Kharijites

Arabic: حقيقة الخوارج الجدد باتت واضحة أمام الليبيين ، وما أرتكبه أولئك الخوارج من جرائم يندى لها جبين الإنسانية يجعل أمر الالتحاق بعملية الكرامة في حكم الضرورة .
وقديماً قال الفيلسوف الصيني كونفوشيوس : من يرى الصواب ولا يفعله ، فهو جبان . وأنا على يقين بأن الليبيين على قدر عال من الشجاعة ، ولن يرضوا بحفنة تعيش خارج العصر أن تتحكم في مصير وطن يتطلع إلى بناء دولة مدنية ديمقراطية تسع الجميع

English Translation 

Kharijites new fact has become clear in front of the Libyans, and those committed by the Kharijites of crimes insanity of humanity makes the enrollment process is dignity in the rule of necessity.
As the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius said: He who sees not do the right thing, he is a coward. I am sure that the Libyans on a high degree of courage, and would not live outside a handful liked afternoon to control the fate of the nation is looking forward to building a democratic civil state nine everyone

Hand in hand to build our beloved Libya Restoration of a police station in our capital Tripoli.

Post by ‎حسن طاطاناكي - Hassan Tatanaki‎.

This election was about change, and we hope this includes a change in how the world sees Africa, said Libya's Hassan Tatanaki

                  Obama's African Roots on Center Stage at Pan-Africa

Inaugural Ball

Sarah Obama, Robert De Niro, Rev. Desmond Tutu to Help Boost Africa's New

Special Relationship

Much was made during the campaign about President Barack Obama's African
heritage. His roots will be definitely showing at the pan-Africa ball, where African
political leaders, NGOs, and activists will be turning up en masse to show their
support for America's first African-American President, and to symbolize the
special new relationship the continent shares with America. Among the special
guests who will welcome the new President: the President-elect's Kenyan
Grandmother Sarah Obama, actor Robert DeNiro, Nobel Peace Prize winners
Reverend Desmond Tutu and Wangari Maathai.

"This election was about change, and we hope this includes a change in how the
world sees Africa," said Libya's Hassan Tatanaki, Chairman of the Tatanaki
Foundation and one of the event's sponsors. "Africa is more than famine and
poverty and war. It is a place of beauty and history and culture as well. We are
grateful for the humanitarian commitment of previous Presidents to Africa, but we
feel Africa now has a personal connection to America, at the highest level."

To secure interviews, exclusive photos and b-roll, please contact Ethan Wagner:
1-646-673-2469 or ethanw@brownlloydjames.com

WHAT: "Africa on the Potomac," the 2009 Pan- Africa
Inaugural Ball

WHERE: 1 700 Jefferson Davis
WHEN: 6:00pm, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 (Inauguration Day)

2 K>

This material is distributed by Brown Lloyd James on behalf of Challenger Limited. Additional information
is available at the Dept. Of Justice. Washington DC.  continue reading 

Libya requires emergency government

The following interview with Libyan businessman Hassan Tatanaki was conducted a few days before the sudden events took place in Libya. The General National Congress (GNC) was surprised by the military deployment led by retired Maj. Gen. Khalifa Hifter in Benghazi, Tripoli and other areas. This operation was supported by sectors of the army and has pushed the GNC to announce, in a shocking step, the election of a new parliament on June 25 to replace the GNC, whose term has expired.

Summary 

 Libyan businessman Hassan Tatanaki talked to Al-Hayat about the necessity of forming an emergency government in Libya to strengthen the army, police and judiciary, before the country becomes a source of terrorism.

Author Mohammad Ali Farhat Posted May 23, 2014

Translator(s)Joelle El-Khoury

 

Original Article  

  اقرا المقال الأصلي باللغة العربية

The elections may not be held on schedule because the events on the ground keep changing around the clock. Meanwhile, neighboring countries are closing their borders to people, the Arab League is taking action and the Maghreb countries are calling for a meeting to discuss the developments in Libya. For their part, the United Nations, the United States and Europe are watching with a great level of suspense.
Tatanaki said that Islamic political parties were controlling the GNC after they had received the consent of Western circles and became powerful. However, he considers Libya’s problem to extend beyond this, as developments reveal a desire to turn this country into a hotbed of terrorism.
Tatanaki said he is optimistic about the ability of the Libyan people, with all their revolutionaries, armed forces and tribes, to overcome chaos and deter extremist leaders that are striving to spread discord between the tribes and across the cities. He suggested the creation of an emergency government monitored by an elected parliament to enhance the army, the police and the judiciary, and respect the responsibilities of the tribes as per their customs, for deterrence. This leads to getting rid of illegal weapons and makes people trust the state security institutions and the judiciary.
As a political activist, Tatanaki said in all transparency that he helped close associates of the regime in solving the problem of the blockade resulting from the Lockerbie problem. Back then, the regime of former President Moammar Gadhafi considered him a close associate of the United States and some European countries. Some Gadhafi supporters even accused him of collaborating with these countries.