Safaa Hegazy, the former Egyptian state TV anchor and head of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU), passed away earlier today.
Hegazy had made her name presenting "Bayt al-Arab" (The Arab House), a position she held for twenty years. During her work on the show as a state TV anchor, she interviewed Arab heads of state and politicians, and covered the workings of the Arab University. She began to gain prominence when she interviewed Atef Sedky, the former Prime Minister of Egypt.
Hegazy was appointed as director of the ERTU in 2016, replacing Issam Al Amir. Colleagues described her as "an iron lady."
Hegazy was at the center of controversy last year when the ERTU suspended eight female anchors for being "overweight," calling their appearance "inappropriate." The move caused uproar, and was widely seen by feminist social critics as an attack on women.
Her cause of death was not specified, outside of being described as an "illness." Funeral proceedings will initiate at Al Sayeda Nafeesah Mosque, in Cairo, at noon.
