Egypt's veiled presenter in breakthrough TV appearance

A woman presenter has appeared on Egyptian State TV in an Islamic headscarf for what is believed to be first time since it opened in 1960.

3 September 2012, 12:00am

1 min read

Fatima Nabil appeared in the headscarf to read the midday news bulletin.

Fatima Nabil wore a cream-coloured headscarf as she read a midday news bulletin on Egyptian State TV yesterday.

Under the regime of ex-President Hosni Mubarak there was an unofficial ban on women presenters covering their hair.

But the new Muslim Brotherhood-led government has introduced new rules, saying that nearly 70% of Egyptian women wear the headscarf.

She is expected to be followed by other news and weather presenters similarly dressed.

New Information Minister Salah Abdel-Makshoud, a Brotherhood member, has pointed out that many women appearing on other Arab and international TV channels cover their hair.

Under Mubarak's regime, veiled women employed in the TV industry were given jobs away from the cameras.