During the last weeks of March, we witnessed a new development in the attempted thawing of relations between Egypt and Turkey. Ayman Nour [Ayman Nūr], head of “al-Sharq” television network, announced that he had met with representatives of the Turkish government to discuss “toning down” criticism of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi [ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ al-Sīsī] and his government on channels run by the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood opposition based in Turkey.[i] This comes amidst other reports that Ankara demanded that some programs on these channels be canceled and certain broadcasters be removed.[ii] While there have been additional conflicting reports about the tone of the Turkish government’s request, the move indicates one of Turkey’s biggest gestures yet to show its desire to restore relations with Egypt. It is also remarkable, especially in consideration of Egypt’s recent reconciliation with Qatar, in which no concessions were formally given to Egypt related to Qatar’s media, which had extensively criticized Egypt.[iii]
