| Shahira Amin شهيرة أمين |
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|---|---|
| Residence | Cairo, Egypt |
| Nationality | Egypt |
| Ethnicity | Arab |
| Occupation | Former Deputy Head of Nile TV Anchor |
| Religion | Islam |
Shahira Amin (Arabic: شهيرة أمين) is an Egyptian journalist, the former deputy head of Egyptian state-owned Nile TV and one of its senior anchors. She resigned from the position on February 3, 2011, allegedly due to her disapproval of the channel's coverage of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.[1] She claimed, in language that later proved to be a lie, "I can't be part of the propaganda machine, I am not going to feed the public lies".[2] She also said that they don't approve we air about Tahrir protests and we are only allowed to cover the pro-Mubarak ones. Shahira Amin has been a correspondent for CNN's weekly program Inside Africa for 8 years.[3]
Amin became the subject of widespread moral outrage on October 18, 2011, when she conducted an allegedly coerced interview with the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.[4]
Though, in a subsequent BBC interview, Amin denied knowing that the interview had been coerced,[5] photo evidence shows that standing behind Shalit’s chair as he answered Amin's questions was a man in fatigues, wearing a black face mask and the green headband of the Qassam brigades – Hamas’s military wing – holding a video camera in his hand[4] and number two in the Hamas hierarchy, Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook[6]. Amin claimed that "It's true that he was brought in by armed Hamas men, but in the room itself there were only Egyptian intelligence people. They didn't intervene, and neither did the Hamas men".[7]
In videos of the interview, Amin can be seen telling a gaunt, frail, and exhausted Shalit, whose breathing is conspicuously labored, "You look fine".[8][9]
Amin asked Shalit questions that drew heavy criticism, such as why he sent home "only" one video during his captivity and whether he learned any lessons from being held hostage. Amin also asked Shalit why he thinks Egypt, and not another country like Germany, successfully brokered his release, and whether he would like to say anything to Egypt.[8] The BBC criticized that Amin "appeared to seek credit for Egypt".[5] Amin confirmed her intent in a statement to Haaretz: "For five years Mubarak made promises and nothing happened, and now, eight months after his removal, things started moving and resulted in a deal, and I believe the [Egyptian] government and the [Egyptian] military council are due credit".[10] Amin's station's translation of Shalit's Hebrew was also inaccurate.[11][12]
Following the interview, many journalists - not all Israeli - characterized Amin's actions as "merciless," "cruel," and violative of the rules of journalistic ethics.[13][14][4][15][16][17][18] Amin and her news station were accused of conducting the interview despite an express agreement with Israel to not hold any interviews with the newly-"released" captive.
Defending herself on Facebook, Amin stated: "I did not take advantage of Gilad Shalit... Had he said he wouldn't do it, I WOULD NOT have pressed him. I have all the compassion for him and wish him the BEST." She also stated: "I know that he was very eager to go home and see his family, but it only took a few minutes and it was important to let the world know that he was all right. It was important but I didn't force him into it."[5] Amin also stated to Haaretz, "I heard the criticism, but I think it is incorrect. I'm a journalist, and any journalist would want to conduct an interview that would be aired all over the world".[19] At least one other journalist has defended Amin as merely taking the opportunity to report on a scoop the same way any journalist would. [20]
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