Unique talk show on Arabic satellite TV promotes the rights of disabled people

The talk show has tackled issues such as discrimination, independence, marriage, feelings, violence, etc. in discussion with guests in the studio and with the viewers, who have called the show or sent their comments via text messages from their mobile phones. In Arabic, “One Hour is not Enough” is “Sa’a Mish Say’a”, and many viewers have sent their sms’s to the ‘SMS-show’, for example:

I would like to thank you for the program "Sa3a Mish Say3a" because it helped me to face my serious problems with my family.

- A viewer in Lebanon

Thank you for raising this kind of awareness which is much needed for us.

- A viewer in Palestine

We need to raise our people’s awareness about challenged persons, because they need love and care.

- A viewer in Saudi Arabia

The rights of disabled persons are often ignored in many Arab countries, and one of the main reasons for this is simply lack of awareness. The issue of disability is not generally discussed in Arab media, and SAT-7’s show has created a lot of attention, also from other media.

The show was hosted by well-known Lebanese presenter Said Melki, and by Tania Nahhas. Tania, who is of Palestinian descent, was injured in a bomb attack in 1983, when she was nine years old. The attack left her parents blind and her in a wheel chair. Tania is a law school graduate, but is not allowed to practice law, because of Lebanese restrictions against Palestinians. She therefore works as a receptionist in SAT-7 Lebanon, but has also now shown a remarkable talent as a presenter! Tania has received many phone calls from viewers to whom she has been an example and an inspiration.

The show has included reports from Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian areas, as well as short dramas highlighting the issue in question. Famous Lebanese actors have acted for free in these dramas, in support of the good cause.

SAT-7 is a Christian, Arabic satellite TV-channel, which is supported by all the major denominations of the Middle East: Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant. The channel has its own studios in Lebanon and Egypt, and administration and broadcast facilities in Cyprus.

It is not the first time SAT-7 deals with disability issues. An earlier disability campaign on SAT-7 which included documentaries, spots and children’s programmes produced remarkable results. The programmes were tested on focus groups in Jordan, Morocco and Egypt. The main reaction was one of great surprise. The viewers were not used to seeing disabled persons who went to school, had a job and took care of their families. After watching the SAT-7 programmes, the number of respondents who strongly agreed to the statement:“People with disabilities have a valuable contribution to make in the community,” had changed from 48% to 65% in Jordan, from 77% to 86% in Morocco, and from 37% to 71% in Egypt.

For further information please contact Mette Schmidt, Executive Producer for Development Programming, e-mail MetteSchmidt@sat7.org.