The widely read and influential Islamic news website Islam
Online was on the brink of collapse yesterday after a mass walkout and
strike in its Cairo-based newsroom.
More than 300 employees of the site, which is run by a Qatar-based religious
non-governmental organisation, were negotiating a severance deal that could
gut the websites staff.
By Sunday there probably wont be an Islam Online. It will be an empty
building, a striking employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
Months of growing tension between the sites Cairo-based newsroom and the
Islamic Message Society, which funds the project, culminated in Mondays
mass walkout and street protest by employees.
One, Fathi Abu Hattab, said that the new directors of the site had been
interfering in editorial decision-making, seeking to alter its moderate tone
and diversity of content.
They want to change the personality of Islam Online, he said. Even if you
fund the organisation you dont have the right to just change the editorial
policy without first talking to us.
The dispute has played out over the internet via Twitter and through a live
online video stream set up by the striking workers. With strikers chanting
in the background, a steady stream of employees have voiced their grievances
before the video feed, with many saying that they were fighting for their
jobs and their vision for their website.
If you want to found a conservative website, go and found one. Dont take
over Islam Online and try to change it, one unnamed striker said on the
video feed on Monday.
The website was established in 2000 under the guidance of the prominent
Qatar-based Egyptian cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi. It has built a reputation for
covering a diverse array of issues in English and Arabic, including advice
columns that homosexuality and pornography addiction. The site is also known
for employing non-Muslims and openly secular staffers.
A mission statement on the website says that it aims to embody a holistic
image of Islam and present the unified and lively nature of Islam that is
keeping up with modern times in all areas.
That vision, according to Abu Hattab and other current and former employees,
changed several months ago with a shake-up on the board of the Islamic
Message Society. The new bosses, Abu Hattab said, immediately sought to rein
in the scope and tone of Islam Online. That included scaling down or
completely eliminating the culture and youth sections.
They want Islam Online to be only a religious website, Abu Hattab said.
He recalls one particular controversy last month when the new board strongly
objected to an article on Valentines Day reprinted from a local newspaper.
After widespread newsroom resistance to the editorial changes, administrators
informed employees on Monday that all Cairo contracts would end on March 31,
prompting the walkout.
Efforts to contact the Islamic Message Society in Qatar or the websites local
administrators were unsuccessful.
Several strikers speculated that the new board, viewing the newsroom as
insubordinate, was determined to purge the Cairo operation.
They dont want anyone to stay. Theyre fine if all 315 or so employees walk
out, Abu Hattab said.
He expected all employees to resign and take the guaranteed severance package
rather than risk an uncertain future under the new management.
He added: Besides, anyone who stayed would become their slaves.
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