Egypt’s prosecutors issue arrest warrant for popular TV satirist

PanARMENIAN.Net - Egypt’s state prosecutors issued an arrest warrant Saturday, March 30 for a popular television satirist for allegedly insulting Islam and the country’s president, in the latest legal action to take aim at a critic of the nation’s Islamist leader, The Associated Press reports.

The warrant against Bassem Youssef is also the latest in a series of legal actions against the comedian, who has come to be known as Egypt’s Jon Stewart. Youssef’s widely-watched weekly show, “ElBernameg” or The Program, has become a platform for lampooning the government, opposition, media and clerics.

The fast-paced show has attracted a wide viewership, but has also earned itself its fair share of detractors. Youssef has been a frequent target of lawsuits, most of them brought by Islamist lawyers who have accused him of “corrupting morals” or violating “religious principles.”

The comedian has faced several court cases in the past, also accusing him of insulting President Mohammed Mursi. One of Youssef’s attorneys, Gamal Eid, said this is the first time an arrest warrant has been issued for the comedian.

In a post on his official Twitter account, Youssef said he will hand himself in to the prosecutor’s office Sunday. He then added, with his typical sarcasm: “Unless they kindly send a police van today and save me the transportation hassle.”

Eid said the warrant fits into a widening campaign against government critics, media personalities, and activists.

“The prosecution has become a tool to go after the regime’s opposition and intimidate it,” Eid said.