Saudi network says signal deliberately jammed in Egypt during satirist Bassem Youssef’s show

CAIRO – A Saudi-owned satellite network says the signal of its Egyptian affiliate deliberately was jammed while it aired the country’s top satirical program.

Mazen Hayek, a spokesman of the Middle East Broadcasting Center group, said Saturday that the network’s satellite carrier identified small satellite transmitters in two Cairo locations as the cause of the jamming during satirist Bassem Youssef’s show, called “The Program” in Arabic. Hayek said it was not possible to identify who was behind the jamming.

He called the jamming of “a form of terrorism.”

Youssef, often compared to U.S. comedian Jon Stewart, has faced legal challenges over his skewering of Egyptian politicians. A private Egyptian TV station suspended his show last fall. The Saudi broadcaster began airing his show in February.