This article is more than 12 years old. See today’s top stories here.

CNN Becomes Target Of Egypt Protesters

CNN Targeted By Egypt Protesters
By 

Senior Media Editor, The Huffington Post

CNN has become a target of protesters in Egypt after it mistakenly labeled a crowd as being supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi and repeatedly referred to his overthrow as a "coup."

The crowd was actually protesting against Morsi, and backers of his ouster have strongly objected to calling it a coup, saying that the Egyptian military deposed him based on popular will. CNN called the events a coup minutes after Morsi's departure from office was announced last Wednesday.

Someone created a "CNN Supports Terrorism" Facebook page and Twitter account, and protesters could be seen in Cairo with signs reading "CNN Shame On You":

Dear US,
I'm Egyptian and this is a Revolt and NOT a COUP!
Stop Supporting Terrorism! RT Now. @BarackObama @cnn #Egypt

— CNN Backs Terrorism (@CNNTerrorism) July 6, 2013

There was also a march in New York, and a petition which has garnered over 40,000 signatures.

Ben Wedeman, CNN's longtime Cairo correspondent, said on Twitter that people had become so incensed about the coverage that he didn't feel safe enough to go to Tahrir Square:

@Metalloy @WaelNawara We did. But from a balcony what do you get? I want to be in crowd but w/"Shame on CNN" signs everywhere reception dark

— benwedeman (@bencnn) July 7, 2013

@dguindy Thank you. All networks make mistake which we try to correct but in this case we've had to stay out of Tahrir to avoid trouble

— benwedeman (@bencnn) July 7, 2013
|
Submit a tip
Close

What's Hot