Egypt’s state-owned Al-Akhbar newspaper apologised to the family of the Muslim Brotherhood’s General Guide on Thursday for publishing an “offensive headline” in its Wednesday edition. The article concerned Mohammed Badie’s health.
Badie was transferred on Tuesday from the Scorpion maximum security prison to Al-Qasr El-Aini Hospital to undergo surgery for an inguinal hernia. The article run by the newspaper was deemed to be inappropriate and offensive by both journalists and activists alike. It is expected to publish the full text of the apology signed by editor, Yasser Rizk, in its Friday edition.
Rizk said in his apology that the headline did not intend in any way to humiliate or gloat over Badie’s illness. In a barbed statement, the editor said, “I apologise to Dr Mohammed Badie, especially that he is behind bars, and wish him from all my heart to enjoy a speedy recovery and justice, as well as the courage to apologise to our nation.”
Badie was arrested on charges of committing acts of violence in August 2013 by the same authorities which had carried out a military coup against the democratically-elected Brotherhood government a month earlier.
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