Hamdi Qandil

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Hamdi Qandil
Born1936 (1936)
Egyptian television and Dream TV (1961–1969, 1998–2003)
Dubai TV (2004–2008)
Al-Libia (2008)
MovementNational Association for Change (February–June 2010)
Egyptian Popular Current (September 2012–2018)
SpouseNaglaa Fathi

Hamdi Qandil (

ART, but left amid disagreements between him and his managers regarding Qandil's planned interviews with Muammar Gaddafi and Tariq Aziz
.

He returned to Egyptian television in 1998, hosting the current affairs and press review talk show Ra'is el-Tahrir ("Editor-in-Chief"). The program became one of the most popular and respected in Egypt. After apparent trouble with the state censors, Qandil moved the show to

2011 Egyptian Revolution
.

Qandil was well known for his pan-Arabist discourse and fierce criticism of the Egyptian and other Arab governments.[2][3][4] According to Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies political analyst Diaa Rashwan, Qandil "is a great Egyptian journalist and highly credible, he is bold and gives constructive criticism ... people listen to him and take what he says seriously, which is why he poses a threat" to the government.[5] Prior to the Egyptian revolution, Qandil co-founded the National Association for Change, a reformist group headed by Mohamed ElBaradei. From September 2012, Qandil had lent his support to the Egyptian Popular Current opposition movement.

Early life

Childhood

Qandil was born in

Menoufia. He was the eldest of five children. Qandil spent much of his childhood and had his primary schooling in the Nile Delta city of Tanta. His father had moved the middle-income family to that city, where he owned a few feddans of land mostly planted with pears and grapes. Qandil's father primarily distributed them to neighbors and others close to him.[6]

During Qandil's boyhood, he borrowed and read books from a medical practice and a culture and sporting association in Tanta on a near weekly basis. He also learned field hockey there. Qandil was at the top of his class throughout his later school years and initially sought to enter the medical profession, a typical career aspiration for students with high marks. His mother particularly encouraged him to become a doctor. Qandil simultaneously took an interest in writing, Arabic calligraphy and foreign languages.[6]

Journalism career and education

Qandil was introduced to journalism when he began writing a secondary school research paper. During that time, he also wrote an article for the low-budget Tanta newspaper Al Ikhlas, criticizing

Muhammad Naguib.[6]

Qandil spent two months studying geology and decided to retake his high school examinations in order to enter into medical school. He performed well and was admitted to

National Guard. Together with some of his fellow students he founded his college's official magazine, which they printed through the Akhbar el-Yom publishing house. The magazine's first edition was confiscated due to an article Qandil wrote that was critical of university professors and regulations. Shortly after completing his final exams in 1956, Qandil was offered a writing position with Akher Sa'a ("Last Hour") magazine by its owners, the prominent journalists and brothers Mustafa Amin and Ali Amin. Mustafa employed Qandil with a salary of 15 Egyptian pounds and initially tasked him with writing the horoscope and a column that responded to letters from readers.[6] Qandil was asked by Amin to serve as an editor for Akher Sa'a in 1961.[1]

That year Qandil also attended the International Union of Students in Prague, Czechoslovakia, where he met Yasser Arafat, then the head of the General Union of Palestinian Students. Later in 1956 Qandil was accepted into the department of journalism, obtaining a license (bachelor's degree) in journalism in 1960. Four years later he received a diploma in journalism from the Berlin Institute. Throughout this period he wrote for the magazine Al-Tahrir, earning a salary of 25 Egyptian pounds, and also worked with Al-Jamahir magazine in Damascus.[6]

Career in television and the UN

In 1961 Qandil began to work in broadcast television as the presenter of the program Aqwal al-Suhf ("In the Press"). In 1966 he became a media adviser to a television studio in

Jordanian royal government and after Qandil was notified of this disapproval, he immediately returned to Egypt where he continued presenting the program. His position in Aqwal al-Suhuf ended in 1969 with his appointment as director of the Arab Broadcasting Stations Union (ABSU).[6]

In early May 1971 Qandil left the ABSU after refusing to launch a disciplinary investigation of the technical team that recorded the Labor Day speech given by Anwar Sadat, who became president following Nasser's death in 1970. He left at a time when numerous broadcasters and media personalities were removed from their positions during Sadat's Corrective Revolution. However, he briefly returned to television in 1973 to announce Egypt's claimed victory in the Yom Kippur War with Israel in October of that year.[6]

Qandil was appointed manager of the Department of the Free Flow of Information and Communication Policies for UNESCO in 1974. In an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, Qandil stated that while at UNESCO he "specialised in satellite communications and published several books and studies" dealing with global media and broadcasting. During this time he strongly pushed to include Palestine as a member and attempted to remove the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore from the organization. According to his own account, he was also able to master the English and French languages, and gain experience in diplomacy. He left UNESCO in 1986.[6]

Together with partners from Egypt and the

Arab Radio and Television (ART), but initially opted to work on a project setting up a private Egyptian station for Al-Ahram. The station was not launched and Qandil took up a position at ART in 1996 where he hosted his own show called With Hamdi Qandil. Qandil's arrangements to interview Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on the anniversary of the 1969 coup that brought him to power, and also Tariq Aziz, the vice president of Iraq at the time, aroused controversy among ART's managers. He quit thereafter.[6]

Ra'is el-Tahrir and Qalam Rosas

In 1998 Qandil responded favorably to the invitation of

media, Qandil stated in 2001 that the situation was an improvement from when he first began the program, but "as long as there remains a censor, we will continue to ask for more [freedom of expression]."[7]

Ra'is el-Tahrir was intended to serve as a weekly review of the pan-Arab press, but in practice the program became a medium through which Qandil expressed his opinions on various issues confronting Egypt and the Arab world, views which he claimed were representative of the popular Egyptian sentiment. Al-Ahram Weekly′s Amina Elbandary wrote that during the show, Qandil spoke "in histrionic style, his commentary replete with daring questions and remarks. Viewers are fascinated by his apparent lack of inhibition."[7]

In the wake of the

Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation that began in 2000, the show became dominated by the conflict, which Qandil generally regarded as a campaign of Israeli aggression. He frequently broadcast the Israeli military's actions during the Intifada and called for viewers to support the uprising and boycott Israeli products. Qandil responded to a query regarding his extensive coverage of the Intifada by saying, "How are news shows expected to react to events such as the Intifada? Are we supposed to keep silent?"[7]

Ra'is el-Tahrir later moved to Dream TV, an Egypt-based television station. Qandil continued to express his frustrations regarding the Israel and the Intifada, the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, and what he perceived as the United States' maligned intentions for the Middle East. According to author and researcher Andrew Hammond, "The show's combination of current affairs, press reviews and talk-shows became the most talked-about television in Egypt since Al-Jazeera's al-Ittijah al-Mu'akis."[8] His show on Dream TV was cancelled abruptly in early 2003 amid rumors that he had been crossing political red lines during his broadcasts, including stinging criticism of the government of Hosni Mubarak. This reasoning was dismissed by Dream TV manager Sanaa Mansour, who stated that Qandil had not been let go, was free to express himself and left the show without offering an explanation to management.[9]

In 2004 Qandil moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) began hosting a program on Dubai TV called Qalam Rosas ("Pencil"). The program was virtually a continuation of Ra'is al-Tahrir,[10] a highly watched show dealing with the Arab world's major political, economic and social affairs of the day.[11] Qalam Rosas would normally open with Qandil interviewing an Arab intellectual and discussing a current event. The show would then continue to a round table discussion with other journalists analyzing various social and political events and movements concerning the citizens of the Arab world. At its closing, Qandil would summarize the show with a well-known maxim or saying.[12] The London-based Arab Media Watch organization awarded Qandil the 2006 Media Accomplishment Award to commend him for his "creativity and participation in the media world" over the course of his five decade career.[13] In 2008 Qandil was forced to leave Dubai TV for criticizing Arab leaders, while commending Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of the Lebanese political party and paramilitary group Hezbollah.[10]

After his departure from Dubai TV he entered into a contract with Al-Libia, although he only remained with the

Al-Manar TV in early 2009, but opted not to join citing an unclear situation regarding his contract with Al-Libia.[5]

Political activism and Aboul Gheit lawsuit

After his brief stint on Al-Libia, Qandil returned to Egypt to write for the newspaper

libel against Qandil in response to a critical column about Aboul Gheit and Egyptian foreign policy that Qandil wrote for Al-Shorouk,[10] called "The Homeland’s Disgrace and that of the Citizen." In the column Qandil lambasted the contradictory statements made by Aboul Gheit and Egypt's ambassador to Israel, in which the latter said Israel was a friendly state, while Aboul Gheit had just previously stated that Israel was an enemy. Qandil wrote that the ambassador sought to cover up Aboul Gheit's statement,[3] and that Aboul Gheit's words "usually ... fall from his mouth like droppings of a torn rubbish bag".[14] The matter was transferred to the criminal court. His relationship with Al-Shorouk consequently ended as a result of the controversy.[10]

In June 2010 Qandil quit his position as the NAC's media spokesman. He did not give an official reason for resigning, but was reportedly upset that ElBaradei was frequently outside of Egypt.[10] In mid-December Qandil appeared in court and his defense team, which included his brother Assem and Gamal Eid requested that the "biased" court quit and that the case be transferred to a civil jurisdiction. On 24 January 2011 the court refused the referral and also refused to summon Aboul Gheit at the request of Qandil's defense team.[15] On 25 January mass demonstrations demanding President Hosni Mubarak's downfall erupted across Egypt, eventually overthrowing the government, including Aboul Gheit, on 11 February. In April Aboul Gheit dropped the lawsuit. According to Hafez Abu Seada of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, the revolution was the clear reason Aboul Gheit withdrew the suit, and had it not occurred, "the court could have handed [Qandil] a prison sentence."[14]

Political views

Qandil described himself as a supporter of Nasserism, which he defined not as a political affiliation, but rather an ideal of "social justice" and "national liberation" that "goes beyond generation and class". He did not join any of Egypt's Nasserist political parties or organizations, but viewed the era of late president Nasser as a period in which his "generation was taught self-respect, national pride and the courage to stand up against the great powers".[6] Qandil was described by Hammond as a "secular-nationalist ... embodying the 'conscience of the Arab nation'".[8]

In a 1999 interview Qandil stated his view that the pan-Arab media was not able to counter what he perceived as the influence of

mass exodus of Palestinians from their homes.[16]

Qandil supported the 2011 Egyptian revolution and called for Mubarak to step down from the start of the protests.

Revolutionary Youth Coalition (RYC) announced their support for him.[18] In late September 2012, during the post-revolution period in Egypt during Mohamed Morsi's presidency, Qandil announced his support for the Egyptian Popular Current movement founded by Sabahi. At the inaugural conference, Qandil stated that "a major political battle" would soon be launched for the next parliamentary elections and that Egypt's diverse make-up could never be changed.[19]

Personal life and Death

Qandil met and married Egyptian actress Naglaa Fathi in 1992.[6] He was married twice before.[6] Fathi said of Qandil "He is the first man who has fascinated me. It is not easy to bewitch me, but he did. I feel like a student when I'm with him: I discover new qualities in him every day,"[20] while Qandil said he felt an "immediate chemical bond" with Naglaa.[6]

Qandil died on 31 October 2018 after a long illness, aged 82.[21][22]

References

  1. ^ a b c Said, Rania. A Few Good Men: Hamdi Qandeel Archived 29 June 2013 at archive.today. Identity Magazine. 2011.
  2. ^ Veteran Journalist Hamdi Kandil Discusses Revolution at AUC[permanent dead link]. The American University in Cairo. 6 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Al-A'asar, Marwa. Qandil to stand trial on charges of defaming Egypt’s FM. Daily News Egypt. 16 December 2010.
  4. ^ Nasrawi, Saif. Pro-ElBaradei journalist faces criminal trial over minister 'insult'. Egypt Independent. Originally published by Agence France-Presse. 9 June 2010.
  5. ^ a b Hamdy Kandil offered slot on Hezbollah's Al-Manar. Daily News Egypt. 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Dularamani, Sajini. Hamdi Qandil: 'The singer, not the song' Archived 3 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Al-Ahram Weekly. 21 April 1999.
  7. ^ a b c Elbandary, Amina. TV meets the madding crowd Archived 20 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Al-Ahram Weekly. 20 June 2001.
  8. ^ a b Hammond, 2007, p. 218.
  9. ^ Osman, Ahmed. TBS 12 Rude Awakening: Dream Drops Top Talkers. Transnational Broadcasting Studies Journal. Adham Center for Television Journalism. Spring-Summer 2004.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Profiles: Hamdi Qandil: Media man turned politician Archived 3 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Al-Ahram Weekly. 6 January 2011.
  11. ^ Qalam Rusas Live on JumpTV. Talfazat. 31 January 2008.
  12. ^ Qalam Rusas. Middle East Media Services (MEMS). 2006-2007.
  13. ^ Hamdi Qandil Wins the 2006 Media Accomplishment Award. WALEG. 19 September 2006.
  14. ^ a b Former FM drops defamation charges against Hamdy Qandil. Daily News Egypt. 18 April 2011.
  15. ^ Al-A'asar, Marwa. Court refuses to change Qandil’s trial jurisdiction. Daily News Egypt. 24 January 2011.
  16. ^ Hammond, 2007, p. 2.
  17. ^ Copty, Natalie. Qandil praises Egyptian bravery Archived 14 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Caravan-AUC. 11 March 2011.
  18. ^ Tayel, Abeer. Revolutionary Youth Coalition supports Sabbahi for president. Al Arabiya. 15 May 2012.
  19. Ahram Online
    . 22 September 2012.
  20. ^ Abou al-Magd, Nadia. Naglaa Fathi: Soft as steel Archived 22 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Al-Ahram Weekly. 20 November 2000.
  21. ^ "وفاة الإعلامي حمدي قنديل". e3lam.org (in Arabic). 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Veteran journalist, news anchor Hamdi Qandil dies at 82". Egypt Today. Retrieved 1 November 2018.

Bibliography

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