SAT-7® An Hour is not Enough Fights for the Rights of Women Struggling to Lead their Families.

Nicosia, Cyprus, November 3, 2009: SAT-7 Christian Television is pleased to announce the second series of An Hour is not Enough (Sa'a Mish Say'a), starting Monday, November 9, 2009. The broadcast begins at 9:30 p.m. This series spotlights the vulnerability of women in the modern Middle East Program producer Julianna Sfeir says the show is very needed, “We hope to educate women in the Middle East and North Africa as to what their basic rights are when they are the heads of a household. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to educate these women.”

An Hour is not Enough asks and answers direct questions: How do these women (Female Heads of Household) cope with responsibilities that have suddenly fallen on their shoulders when they are abandoned, neglected or lose a husband? How do they raise their children in a society that looks down upon them with shame, even if it’s not their fault? What happens when a husband deserts his family? What are the rights of women, and how do they realize those rights. The show will air “live” each week, giving viewers a chance to call in and share their stories and to discuss what they can do to improve their situations.

“Women must know what their rights are, and society must give women their rights,” observed Tanya Nahhas, who, along with Said Melki, hosts the program. In the Middle East, this is a serious problem. An Hour is not Enough will tackle the practical and emotional impact of divorce, separation, widowhood, unemployment, inheritance, child custody. These issues and many more, harshly confront women.

Issue Number One: Do not be afraid. Someone is there to help. Often, society stigmatizes women who are divorced or separated or victims of other forms of social and economic hardship. The severity of the stigma intimidates many. Sometimes producers have blacked out interviewees faces and altered their voices to give them the security, necessary to calm the fears of those who yearn to share their tragic stories. But for some women, even this security has not been enough to give them confidence to share their stories.

The first episode will set the tone for the series. The hosts will discuss the issues to be presented during this 26-week series. The guests on this show are breaking new ground in the region, and it is not easy. Social problems – drug and alcohol addiction, broken families, economic hardship, to name a few, cannot be solved if they cannot be mentioned. How does society see the people who cope (or do not cope) with these burdens? What support structures are available – within the family, the church, society at large?

In addition, the show dramatizes pertinent situations. Famous actors and actresses have either completely donated their time, or are working for a nominal fee as they enact some of these very sad and disheartening situations. In Lebanon, Voice of Charity Radio will be “simulcasting” An Hour is not Enough. See www.radiocharity.org for frequencies.

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Launched in 1996, SAT-7 is a Christian television service created by and for the People of the Middle East and North Africa with U.S. headquarters in Easton, Md. SAT-7 makes Christ's message of hope available to every home in the Middle East. Each week between 10-12 million people tune into the channels (Intermedia research, 2004 – 2006). Broadcast in three languages—Arabic, Farsi and Turkish—SAT-7 can be viewed via satellite in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, much of Central Asia and worldwide at www.SAT7.org. For more information about SAT-7 go to www.sat7usa.org (English), www.sat7.com (Arabic) and www.sat7PARS.com (Farsi).

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Date: 11/4/2009 11:30:43 AM