An Egyptian court on sentenced popular TV host, Mohamed al-Gheiti to one year in prison after her interviewed a gay man in 2018.
Al-Gheiti, who has expressed his stance against homosexuality on several occasions was accused of encouraging homosexuality and contempt of religion.
The misdemeanours court in Giza also fined him 3,000 Egyptian pounds ($147) and ordered he be put under surveillance for another one year after completing his sentence, said Samir Sabri, the lawyer who brought the case against him.
Al-Gheiti hosted a gay man on his talk show in August 2018, and the pair discussed homosexuality on air. During the interview, the gay man, whose face was blurred to hide his identity, said he was a sex worker and openly talked about his relationship with another man.
After the interview was aired, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, Egypt’s top media body, suspended the channel for two weeks for “professional violations”.
The verdict can be appealed, and it can be suspended if Gheiti pays bail of 1,000 pounds pending the outcome of the appeal.