ANNUAL REPORT 2017 14 INTERVIEW WITH THE LEBANESE PRESIDENT Michel Aoun, Lebanon’s president, and the only Christian President in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) gave a message of peace in an exclusive interview to SAT-7 ARABIC for Easter. In his interview with Host, Fady Bou Rached, President Aoun expressed concerns about the constant change in religious landscape, lamenting the fact that Christians, as minorities, are quickly affected by political turmoil. President Aoun furthermore expressed that his aim is to position Lebanon as the international hub for religious dialogue since, in his opinion, Lebanon encompasses the ultimate mix of cultural, religious, and ethnic groups in the world. The President then ended the interview, reflecting on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and urging Middle Easterners to remain steadfast in hope through current challenges. RESPONDING TO TRAGIC EVENTS On 9 April, a bomb ripped through the Palm Sunday Communion Service at St George’s in Tanta, Egypt, killing 29 and injuring many more. Shortly afterwards a suicide bomb exploded outside St Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria where Pope Tawadros, the leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, led worship. The so-called Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for both bombings. SAT-7 production crews visited the churches and spoke with those left in shock by the tragic events. SAT-7 ARABIC broadcast a special episode of Bridges, giving a voice to the grieving and shocked witnesses of Sunday’s events. The program also spoke with representatives of Egypt’s Orthodox, Evangelical and Catholic Christian communities to express the unity of the Church during this time of unjust suffering for the Christians of the region. COMFORTING MOTHERS AND CHILDREN SAT-7 ARABIC women’s program Speak Up also reached out to viewers, to give support to mothers of traumatised children, after the attack on a bus full of children and adults on their way to a monastery in Minya, Egypt. The attack took place 26 May, 2017 claiming the lives of at least 28 Christians. Mothers called in to the program to share their worries and fears. The special episode of Speak Up offered comfort and prayers for the mothers as well as guidance on handling their children’s questions and worries about the event, and its aftermath. LEADERSHIP CHANGES In March, Albert Fawzi, previously SAT-7 Egypt’s Operations Manager and acting Executive Director, was confirmed by the Egypt Board as Executive Director of the SAT-7 Egypt office. To further strengthen the SAT-7 Egypt team, new positions were finalised for John Adly as Production Manager, and Sherif Wahba as Consulting Producer. SAT-7 ARABIC CHANNEL UPDATE of SAT-7 ARABIC’s new programming was live shows/programming In 2017: of all SAT-7 ARABIC programming was originally made in Arabic 41% 78%