UK investment in Egypt nears $50bn as trade ties deepen – ambassador    Global stocks mixed on Wednesday    Egypt advances strategy to reduce public, external debt    Egypt, China discuss sustainable Gaza ceasefire and Sudan truce    Gaza death toll climbs as winter cold intensifies humanitarian emergency    Public enterprises record $1bn in exports, 20% revenue growth in FY 2024/25: Minister    MSMEDA signs EGP 300m financing agreement with Reefy    GAFI prioritises Start-Up Support Unit, Investor Dispute Settlement Centre: Heiba    GENNVAX launches largest regional vaccine manufacturing facility with $150m investment    Health Minister Discusses radiology upgrade with Curagita, ACH    Sanofi introduces new multiple myeloma treatment to Egyptian market    Central Bank of Egypt, Medical Emergencies, Genetic and Rare Diseases Fund renew deal for 3 years    Egypt, Saudi FMs discuss Gaza, Sudan and preparations for Supreme Coordination Council    Egypt's SPNEX Satellite successfully enters orbit    Egypt unveils restored colossal statues of King Amenhotep III at Luxor mortuary temple    Egyptian Golf Federation appoints Stuart Clayton as technical director    4th Egyptian Women Summit kicks off with focus on STEM, AI    Egypt's PM reviews major healthcare expansion plan with Nile Medical City    UNESCO adds Egyptian Koshari to intangible cultural heritage list    UNESCO adds Egypt's national dish Koshary to intangible cultural heritage list    Egypt calls for inclusive Nile Basin dialogue, warns against 'hostile rhetoric'    Egypt recovers two ancient artefacts from Belgium    Egypt, Saudi nuclear authorities sign MoU to boost cooperation on nuclear safety    Giza master plan targets major hotel expansion to match Grand Egyptian Museum launch    Australia returns 17 rare ancient Egyptian artefacts    China invites Egypt to join African duty-free export scheme    Egypt calls for stronger Africa-Europe partnership at Luanda summit    Egypt begins 2nd round of parliamentary elections with 34.6m eligible voters    Egypt warns of erratic Ethiopian dam operations after sharp swings in Blue Nile flows    Egypt scraps parliamentary election results in 19 districts over violations    Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team    Egypt launches Red Sea Open to boost tourism, international profile    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



US accuses Egypt of stifling freedom of expression
US Foreign Minister Victoria Nuland expresses concern over investigations with satirist Bassem Yousef and arrests of anti-government activists
Reuters Published in Ahram Online on 01 - 04 - 2013

The United States on Monday accused Egypt of muzzling freedom of speech after prosecutors questioned the most popular Egyptian television satirist over allegations he insulted President Mohamed Morsi and Islam.
US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland also suggested the Egyptian authorities were selectively prosecuting those accused of insulting the government while ignoring or playing down attacks on anti-government demonstrators.
Bassem Youssef, who rose to fame with a satirical online show after the uprising that swept autocrat Hosni Mubarak from power in 2011, turned himself in on Sunday after the prosecutor general issued an arrest warrant for the comedian on Saturday.
Youssef, whose program is now on television and has been compared to U.S. satirist Jon Stewart's the Daily Show, is accused of insulting Islam and undermining Morsi's standing.
"We have concerns that freedom of expression is being stifled," Nuland told reporters at her daily briefing, citing Youssef's arrest and his subsequent release on bail of 15,000 Egyptian pounds ($2,200) on Sunday.
In what seemed a gesture of defiance, Youssef arrived at the prosecutor general's office on Sunday wearing an oversized graduation hat modeled on one donned by Mursi when he was awarded an honorary degree in Pakistan in March.
The prosecutor general issued the warrant after at least four legal complaints filed by supporters of Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood politician who was freely elected last June.
Referring to Youssef's case, Nuland added: "This, coupled with recent arrest warrants issued for other political activists, is evidence of a disturbing trend of growing restrictions on freedom of expression."
"The government of Egypt seems to be investigating these cases while it has been slow or inadequate in investigating attacks on demonstrators outside of the presidential palace in December 2012, other cases of extreme police brutality and illegally blocked entry of journalists," she added. "There does not seem to be an even-handed application of justice here."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry raised the issue of freedom of expression with Morsi when he traveled to Cairo in early March on his first trip since taking office and the United States will continue to press for respect of human rights, Nuland said.

Clic here to read the story from its source.