The television satirist seen as the barometer for free speech in post-revolutionary Egypt, Bassem Youssef, has ended his show because he feels it is no longer safe to satirise Egyptian politics. The present climate in Egypt is not suitable for a political satire program, the former surgeon told reporters in a press conference at his studio on Monday afternoon. Im tired of struggling and worrying about my safety and that of my family. Youssefs announcement followed a decision by his host channel, MBC-Misr, to suspend his show during Egypts recent presidential election campaign – in what was perceived as an attempt to stop him mocking Egypts incoming head of state, field marshal Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. The suspension was Youssefs second in less than a year. In September, his previous employers, CBC, terminated an earlier incarnation of the show after he lightly criticised supporters of Egypts government – and on Monday Youssef said he and his team lacked the stamina to move to a third channel. Even if the people in authority do not do it, it reflects badly on the freedom of speech in Egypt.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 22:27:01 +0000
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