CBC stressed that the news was unfounded, adding that the satirical show will continue to be aired throughout the month of March.
The CBC channels group has denied in a statement that the satirical puppet show, Abla Fahita, had been suspended indefinitely upon a decision from the Supreme Council of Media Regulation, as per reports in the Egypt Independent.
A large number of news websites published today in a timely manner that drew attention, a false news based on an unknown source, that the CBC channels decided to suspend [Abla Fahita] indefinitely and informed the programmes team of this decision, mentioning fabricated reasons in the news report, the statement read.
CBC stressed that the news was unfounded, adding that the filming of the episodes of the current season of the programme has concluded and will continue to be displayed throughout the month of March, as usual, until the end of the season.
In 2016, Egypts judiciary had allowed the satirical puppet Abla Fahita to be charged with violating public morality”. The show had also attracted the ire of Parliament referring to its members as impaired.
Abla Fahita, translates to Aunt Fajita, and has been described as a vain widow who first appeared on YouTube but became well-known as a guest on political satirist Bassem Youssefs show before he was forced off the air in 2014. She made the jump to CBC and reportedly has a prominent social media presence.
The current statement from CBC explained that news websites may have confused this false news with another report published Thursday by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation stating that the council had addressed the channel on several observations related to the Abla Fahita programme, asking the channel to take necessary action to avoid it.
The Supreme Council for Media Regulation sent a letter to CBC requesting the omission of explicit sexual references from Abla Fahita episodes, and from episodes on YouTube. It also requested they name the actor behind the famous Abla Fahita puppet who thus far remains unknown to the public in the title sequence, so that they can be held accountable if found to be at fault.
CBC said in its statement, however, that it has not yet received such a letter officially from the council, stressing respect and commitment to the councils decisions.
