TV presenter under fire for disrespecting Syrian refugees

An Egyptian broadcaster drew widespread criticism on social media after posting a video of herself calling Syrian refugees disrespectful, lost and ruined, as she handed them food and clothes in the Lebanese camp.

Reham Saeed, a television personality and host of the popular TV show Sabaya al-Kheir on Al-Nahar channel, posted several related videos last week showcasing her charity work while disdainfully drawing attention to the desperation of the refugees.

The video has sparked a backlash on social media, with prominent journalist Yosri Fouda calling Saeed the “sewer of the media” in a post on his Facebook page.

Mohamed al-Kashef, a researcher on migrant movements on the North Coast for the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR,) called the video shameful.

“There are some people in Egypt, not just refugees, but also Egyptians who react the same way when you give them some food because they need it,” he says.

The introductory thirty-five minute clip opens with Saeed looking dolefully into the distance as plaintive music plays in the background.

“We decided to buy anything that would help with all the money that’s with us because Egyptians are strong and because Egyptians must do their duty,” she begins. “Allow me on the behalf of the Egyptian people to do this duty. Allow me to tell them (the Syrian refugees) that Egypt is with them.”

Saeed is then shown standing in the bed of her aid truck, handing out food to a crowd of mostly women and children. A dramatic song begins to play as she shows Syrians reaching into the back of the truck for clothes.

“As you can see, we have lost control and they are attacking the car,” the presenter says.

Saeed then says with tears in her eyes: “These are the people who are dispossessed, who are divided, and are ruined. This is the fate of people whose country is destroyed…They leave their children on the ground and fight each other.” 

Later Saeed is shown covered in an Egyptian flag, this time alone.

“The Syrians don’t have anything, no home, no land, no future, no work or anything,” she reflects. “I’m very sad this happened. I am glad we were able to help them, even though they were not respectful.”

Saeed concludes by praising Egypt’s Armed Forces.

Fouda wrote a follow up post defending his comment, citing two reasons for posting his statement. The veteran broadcaster and journalist argued that as the issue stretched beyond Egypt’s borders it affects the image of the nation before the rest of world. He continues, saying, “she exploited the tragedy of a brother people in order to terrorize the Egyptian people, claiming to do so on behalf of the Egyptian people more than once.”

Similar statements were made on Twitter where the hashtag #Reham_Saeed started trending with tweeting pictures of Egyptian crowds pushing to get handouts from the military in response to Saeed’s allegations that the Syrian refugees were disrespectful.

@Altmimy_1 tweeted, “#Reham_Saeed was disgusted by the Syrians because they’re refugees taking aid; she has forgotten her people and her Pharaohs, as the Egyptians are refugees in the military state,” alongside a photo of soldiers handing out aid to Egyptians.

Another user @magdymohamed_ tweeted a collage of pictures showing Egyptians taking aid from the army with the text superimposed on it saying, “The Egyptian refugee camps.”

Saeed responded to the backlash against the video on both Facebook and Twitter, tweeting: “I feel sincerely grateful to my darling people and their comments. As for those who are impolite, go endure watching and listening to ignorant and rude ones!!!”

Ahmed Mostafa*, a 23-year old Syrian medical student who has been living in Egypt since 2012 believes the message in the video is a political one aimed at scaring Egyptians.

“She is with the current regime and she is sending the message to Egyptians that [taking aid from Saeed] could happen to you if you do something else.”

This is not the first time Saeed has used the crisis in Syria to make the point that Egyptians should support the army if they don’t want to end up like Syria.

After the picture of the drowned Syrian-Kurdish toddler Aylan al-Kurdi went viral, Saeed held a telephone interview with the boy’s father, Abdullah al-Kurdi.

Introducing the segment, Saeed showed the picture of the child washed up on the shore and said, “That is not the only one who died because of Syria…We think this is because of war, we also have a war. Our military is at the borders stopping that from happening,” she continued pointing at the picture. “I’m sorry but what animal would say ‘Down with the military’?”

Mostafa views Saeed’s video as part of a general trend in Egyptian media coverage following the overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

“It’s very normal, if you think of the events following June 30 and how the Egyptian media treated the Syrians. They sided with the ruling regime, but the regime was not with the Syrians.”

For Mostafa, Egypt’s media is trying to show Egyptians what will happen to them if they seek to change the status quo.

*Name has been changed to protect identity.