E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Ahmed Omar / AP, file
TV host Bassem Youssef addresses attendants at a dinner party in Cairo on Dec. 8. Prosecutors launched an investigation Tuesday against Youssef for allegedly insulting the president.
Egyptian prosecutors launched an investigation Tuesday against a popular television satirist for allegedly insulting the president in the latest case raised by Islamist lawyers against outspoken media personalities.
Lawyer Ramadan Abdel-Hamid Oqsori charged that TV host Bassem Youssef insulted President Mohammed Morsi by putting the leader's image on a pillow and parodying his speeches.
Youssef's case will increase worries about freedom of speech in the post-Hosni Mubarak era, especially when the country's new constitution includes provisions criticized by rights activists for, among other things, forbidding insults.
In a separate case that fuels concern about press freedom, one of Egypt's leading independent newspapers said it was being investigated by the prosecutor following a complaint from the presidency, which accused it of publishing false news.
Egypt votes on its constitution: What's at stake?
Other cases have been brought against media personalities who have criticized the president. Some of the cases have ended with charges being dropped. Morsi's office maintains that the president has nothing to do with legal procedures against media critics.
A local committee of journalists and editors has called for stronger guarantees of press freedoms and a rejection of the current constitution, fearing it allows for jailing journalists under broadly-worded articles regarding media offenses.
Authorities ordered the closure of TV station Al-Fareen last summer after bringing its owner, Tawfiq Okasha, to trial for scathing attacks against Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood group. Okasha had emerged as one of the most popular TV personalities of post-Mubarak Egypt by railing against the uprising that toppled Mubarak's 29-year rule in February 2011.
PhotoBlog: Egyptian Copts gather before constitution vote
Rise to fame
Youssef, a doctor, catapulted to fame when his video blogs mocking politics received hundreds of thousands of hits shortly after the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime leader Mubarak.
Youssef's program is modeled after Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show," where he has appeared as a guest.
Unlike other local TV presenters, Youssef uses satire to mock fiery comments made by ultraconservative clerics and politicians, garnering him a legion of fans among the country's revolutionaries and liberals.
Egypt's ex-dictator Mubarak to be moved to military hospital
Huge online following
Among his most popular clips are the ones where he pokes fun at the president's speeches and decisions.
While holding a red, furry pillow with Morsi's picture on it, Youssef satirizes Morsi's style of speech.
"He tells us things we never knew," he says, before wordy clips of Morsi going into detail about the day of the week and other basic facts.
Complete World coverage on NBCNews.com
"It's October 6! Tell us when it's Christmas!" Youssef shouts to the camera as the audience erupts in laughter and applause.
Youssef, 38, is one of Egypt's most popular TV presenters with 1.4 million fans on Facebook and nearly 850,000 followers on Twitter, just shy of the president's number of followers.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
More world stories from NBC News:
- Drug-resistant malaria threatens deadly global 'nightmare'
- From alcohol to kites: An A to Z guide to the Islamic Republic of 'Banistan'
- UK police: Attackers dressed as Oompa Loompas beat man
- Vatican launches swipe-card security system
- US sailors sue Japan's TEPCO for post-quake radiation exposure
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
Coming to Dearbornistan soon! Militant Islam and democracy are incompatible.
Screw Morsi! Free speech now!
Democracy at it's best...
Dearbornistan.....brought to you by the "Tea-liban"...
Can you imagine if Leno, etc was "investigated" every time they cracked a joke at the president?
It just goes to show you how far they are still behind - and since Morsi not only behind but traveling in reverse.
Its Egypt. Who cares? They got what they voted for, just like here.
Go on and bring some interesting news.
Except we're still on the hook for billions each and every year, even to a regime which absolutely hates us and what we stand for.
No, any religion and Democracy are incompatible. If you are going to lose your freedoms the first to go will be Freedom of (from) Religion. There is no greater danger to our freedom than the terrorists within who seek to put religion into our government.
ABSOLUTELY....and very well said James. The tea Party of the U.S. is even turning on their own. there is a definite reason for the separation of church and state!!
The question is did how did Mubarak respond to satire aimed at him.
Did he lock them up and persecute them? Or did he smile and let them go?
Seems of late, Egypt is starting to reap the whirlwind they voted for. Too bad, as the citizens are losing their freedoms rather quickly! Almost like the book, Animal Farm, whereas "some pigs are more equal..."
During Mubarak's time, more than "90 percent" used to vote for him and his party.
Even with rigged elections, Morsi and his Muslim Bloodhounds could manage only 64 percent votes.
We are doing the biggest blunders.
We are still keeping alive and dancing as the most ungrateful, backstabbing and madly bigoted Sunni rulers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE and other Sunni Arab League nations direct.
These Sunni rulers claimed when needed: we are your strategic allies and Saddam is the killer!
Boom, boom, go for Iraqi wars!
Sunni rulers and Netanyahus' claim: Iran has most dangerous WMDS.
Go, Go, sanctions on Iranian oil.
It does not make much difference for the boom, boom, go, go in the US, Britain, France, Germany and others: whether Pakistan/Killistan has huge nukes and Iran can buy or steal from Pakis!
How's life treating ya Jack?
I'm sure it's been said a million times but Islam and freedom are polar opposites and will never coexist together.
this is not true Troy1101. Turkey is an Islamic State yet has been successful at democracy. However, it is liberal. And...even though Jordan is a Pricipality...it has moved towards a more democratic state.
In some ways I agree with Jonathan in that the people/countries we (the U.S.) listens to are contrary to what is going on. I live in Heliopolis and commute back and forth to my home in San Diego. Even though things can be interesting in Cairo the rest of the country is safe. I actually feel safer in Egypt than I do in San Diego.
"Egyptian prosecutors launched an investigation Tuesday against a popular television satirist for allegedly insulting the president in the latest case raised by Islamist lawyers against outspoken media personalities."
It is beginning of seventh century desert one-way traffic Sunni Islamic madness.
It is bad news for sane Muslims, females, Christians and Israel.
Slowly Egypt will turn into a seventh century Islamic desertistan, Saudi Arabia.
In Egypt, the Sunni extremists with labels like Salaffi and MB (Muslim Bloodhounds) are opening up new chapters of Islamic bigotry. Morsi is just a front for them.
Pakis and Sunni rulers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE and other Sunni Arab League nations are responsible for 80 percent of world problems including economic ones.
Examine the devastations with Iraqi wars and now sanctions on Iranian oil and the resultant oil price manipulations.
They are making the lives of their own people also miserable by their Islamic religious madness to the intolerable levels.
For world peace, just make Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Cleanistans.
It will be a big relief to sane Muslims too.
No Jonathan ~~ Egypt will NOT return to that.. the Copts, other Christians, liberal Muslim, and youth will not allow it to go backwards. Also, the people/workers in tourism and industry will not allow it to go back. I live in Egypt most of the year and have seen some wonderful things. Most of the extreme Salafi's are transplants from Saudi. Also, there is a HUGE influx of converts from (of all paces) the southern United States and Indonesia.They have gone out to the villages and Oasis and have convinced and even "converted" some of the uneducated Egyptians to go back to the old ways of the Ottoman Tribes.
If anything it will lead to an Egyptian Civil War. However, it is a VERY FAR away from this point. Also, I do not believe the Army would stand for something like to happen. I believe the Generals would step in on behalf of the people. It is important to note that the Army is completely separate from the government. Soldiers are not allowed to vote. it is an Army for the people.
Damn drill, not only are you the smartest SOB alive , you are also a Psychic.
welcome to the new muslim order reality...ergun poyraz is under tayyip's claws, without trial, over 6 years for similar reasons .. and do not mention the cases of ergenekon, balyoz, odatv..
The tolerant Muslims don't waste any time - do they? One word, look wrong, or read and article about Morsi and off to the torture rack.
Won't it be nice when Sharia law is part of the American constitution.
Or, get rid of the Muslims NOW. And that includes the fatherless Nigerian!
Ed,
This article had nothing to do with the U.S. but you just HAD to put your
bigoted view in here anyway.
Poko,
Kenyan, not Nigerian. You should try to learn more about people whom you hate.
Anyway, it's four more years, so getting over it would be the best for your mental well being. Because, judging from your comment, you are losing it...
So you're saying you think Obama wants to institute Sharia law in the U.S.? Do you seriously believe that?
When asking that question, you should observe that every country Obama has helped overthrow has "democratically" elected strict Sunni Islamists who are instituting Sharia Law to the great chagrin of the minorities in those countries. In these places, between 15% and 30% of the populations must now follow strict guidelines of another religion, and have literally no representation in their governments, and the killing and rapes have already begun.
Who has Pres. Obama and the U.S. tried to overthrow? Iraq was under former Pres. Bush. Yemen's bombings were under former Pres. Clinton. Your information is incorrect. I am not sure where you are getting your stats and information from. Would you please elaborate what you are referring to?
Long silly name
Could it be that those places are electing Sunni Islamists because they are the majority and in a democracy majority rules. Your just upset because in their country you would be the minority. This is what they have voted for now deal with it.
In free Egypt of the post arab spring they cannot say a bad thing about their "elected" leader? I am shocked.
Are you really shocked farideh? Why, tell me one Muslim country ,that is run by Islamic radicals, where the people are allowed to say anything against the government, or Islam, or Muhammad . I am not shocked at all, not one bit. If you think this is shocking , just keep on reading about Egypt , you will read much more shocking stories ,still yet to come. The Muslim brotherhood is a terrorist organization ,period, and the Egyptian people elected them in a fair election. So much for the Moderate Muslims being the majority, it's just not so.
joe - You missed the sarcasm :)
Joe....try Turkey and Jordan. They parody their leaders all the time. It must also be noted that of the considered Muslim countries....Egypt is the only one with Christmas being a legal holiday.
drjill, are you kidding , Turkey? The country that killed over 1.5 MILLION CHRISTIANS AFTER ww1? They have also recently elected a Islamic president that is trying very hard to implement Sharia law. Jordan ,really? This country is not democratic, it is run by a King ,who is supported by the USA. I am sure he is on Obama's hit list and will not be around much longer, then, when the people vote, they will vote for the Muslim Brotherhood ,or some other Islamist organization.
Oh my goodness Joe you are too, too funny!! Regarding Turkey, do you really have to stretch back almost 60 years (ish) to try and support your argument? HILARIOUS!! Your comment about King Abdullah of Jordan (PBUH) is comical as well!! King Abdullah is the Direct Descendent of the Prophet Mohammad. (PBUH) Why would the Jordanians "vote for the Muslim Brotherhood" which is not even IN Jordan when they have the Direct Descendent of their Prophet? King Abdullah was educated in the U.S. for his primary/elementary years. he understands both cultures. (Along with many others) If anything Jordan is a good balance in the region. The U.S. would be wise to listen to his guidance.
Thanks for the great chuckle. You have made my day. Also, thanks for being a role model for my students on how NOT to incorporate Historical research to support a weak argument.
On a serious note, though, you might want to become educated before espousing such a nonsensical position!! You are right in there with the person who thinks Pres. Obama is Nigerian.
drjill, I'm glad you got a chuckle out of the slaughter of over 1.5 million people, I don't find it amusing. I also don't think ,the descendants of those people think ,its irrelevant that it happened over 60 years ago. As far as the king of Jordan , I know all about him , where he was educated and that he has an American wife. I have nothing against him and I hope he stays in charge for a long time, but I don't think that will happen. Why would the people fvote for the Brotherhood you ask? Well why would the Palestinians vote for the terrorist organization Hamas?
As far as your students go , now I know why so many kids today don't know the truth about anything, all they know is what you Liberal teachers are teaching them. Why don't you teach the truth ,instead of what you wish was the truth,or politically correct.
One other note before i leave, i am of Lebanese decent , my Grandfather was an Immigrant, he was also a Christian. Just forty years ago Lebanon was 75% Christian , today ,barely 30%. The Christians have been and still are being, run out of their homeland in staggering numbers. Why don't you teach that to your STUDENTS.
As far as your beloved president, I don't give a damn where he is from. He is our President and I just have to live with that , at least for four more years.
Once again, Joe, you completely missed the point. (a) I find you and your lack of knowledge humorous. No one finds genocide funny. But you and your ideas are interesting. I truly thought you MUUST have been joking. Further, I am not sure who you are referring to when you say that King Abdullah of Jordan has an American wife. You need to check your facts. Queen Rania was born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents. She went to the AUC in Cairo. She has travelled to America, speaks fluent English (along with 7 other languages) and has enhanced the living and educational standards of Jordan. Again, I appreciate your modeling to my students how not to espouse opinions without checking the facts or going to the primary source. The genocide wasn't the joke......the more you talk/post the more you become the joke. You need to become educated or at least check your facts before you post such ridiculous claims.
drjill, I stand corrected, seems Queen Rania, isn't American after all. It's kind of a let down to me , I always thought she was and was kind of proud of that. I'm not sure what you are revering to when you say ,my lack of knowledge is humorous. I might have been wrong about the Queen of Jordan but my statement about the genocide of 1.5 million Christians in Turkey is a well known fact. It is also a fact that the Christian population in the Middle East is shrinking rapidly. Since I have relatives who are Christian and who live in the Middle east, this is very troubling to me and sometimes I let my emotions and feelings lead me astray. I truly hope your predictions for the future of the Middle east are true, but I just don't share them. While you are in Egypt why don't you check in on some of the Christian neighborhoods, especially the ones where their churches have been burned and people killed. While your there talk to the people and find out what their thoughts are for their future. Then get back with me somehow, through one of these post maybe, and let me know what you find out. Even though our views are obviously different, I still wish you well my friend , you watch your back and be very careful over there.
I, for one, feel the ordinary Egyptian citizen really wants to have a freer society, but since they've never lived it or experienced it, have no clue how to get there. They've been so "brainwashed" for most, or all, of their entire lives that they now have put their trust in untrustworthy people due to their ignorance. I admire them for demanding it and hope that they will achieve a path that will get them there. However, as long as they continue to believe in and vote for those that want to highjack the government, that path will be long and hard.
CarGuy1 you are very wise and correct. Yes the Egyptians want a more free and open society. I live in Heliopolis ~ a suburb of Cairo. What most of the people have studied was Direct Democracy under Thomas Jefferson. They have a great deal of respect for Thomas Jefferson. But all they know is his version of Direct Democracy. This is what they are doing. If the government does something they do not like, or approve of, they take to the streets to let the government know what they want.
Democracy is a process. We have been experiencing for 200 years (ish) and still do not have it down to a science. (So to speak) It is absolutely wonderful and fascinating to see and watch a budding democracy emerge.
And you are also correct to say that it will be a long and hard path. For the middle aged Egyptians, they see and understand this. The youth want things to happen right now, where the elder population want things to go back to what it was under Mubarak. They want stability. But most Egyptians I know or have spoken with feel they have a bright and wonderful future ahead of them if the government would just listen to them and protect the minorities and secularism of the country.
Thanks for sounding so reasonable and positive.
drjill, since you live in Heliopolis when you stated that
why you glossed over the fact that this was Mubarak's decision and that while it is still on the book, this year one of the hottest debated item was the declaration by many Islamists including some who are members of MB that Muslims should not take any part in Christian celebrations and should not convey good wishes to Christians when they celebrate Christmas? This was discussed on almost every news outlet.
I didn't mean to gloss over it Coptic Christian. The person I was addressing would not know or care to know those facts. I would even offer a guess that the person I was addressing had NO IDEA about former Pres Mubarak or the previous Constitution. I would be simply too much information for him. Further he was lumping ALL Egyptians into the same criteria. He does not understand the diversity and beauty of Egypt.
I almost recommended he look up the biography of H. H. Pope Shenouda, but knew this would be too much information for him. He is bias against ALL Egyptians. I have found it is better to begin with a little information and then hopefully he or she (for that matter) will check out things further.
As to your comment of the declaration that Muslims should not take part in Christian Celebrations or convey good wishes to the Christians. Many of my Muslim friends, several Imams, and many of the younger people are actually going to some of the churches for Christmas Mass on Monday. Also, some of the scholars went out to greet Pope Tadros. I truly have faith in the Egyptian People that they will not allow the crazy extremists to take over.
Time is on our side. The youth will keep on until things are better. Pope Tadros will guide everyone just as wonderfully as Pope Shenouda did. I am confident about that. But, as all of us do, we will continue to watch and keep Egypt and her beautiful people in our thoughts, prayers, and meditations.
I love living in Heliopolis, spend quite a bit of time out in Sohag and Luxor. Democracy is a work in process. Egypt is just now beginning the process. The U.S. has been at it for 200 years and still fights about it. Egypt has been through so much over many thousands of years. She will emerge from this stronger and better than ever before.
PS - I enjoy Dr. Bassam's show. I hope you watch it too. :)
drjill, sorry I may have misunderstood you. BTW we have been discussing the events in Egypt for a long time on this website, and there are many in this group who are quite familiar with what is going on in Egypt. From what you said - especially your comment about the definition of the Middle East in the other post - I think that you are an American living in Egypt and probably teaching in a place like the AUC. As for me I am an Egyptian who has been living in the States for many years now, I started to get involved in this group after the Christmas night massacre in Naga Hamadi. I hope that I can share your positive outlook but I am troubled by the events in Egypt; the MB who are in control are incompetent but fanatic and the Salafist are worse because they are importing the Saudi's religious intolerance into the country. I do not know how the struggle between the secular and Islamist factions will end, I hope the secular factions will succeed but I believe that there will be more upheavals and bloodshed in Egypt before things settle down.
Bless your heart!!! And Merry Christmas!!! I should have wished you Merry Christmas last time. :) I agree with you on so many points. The Nag Hamadi massacres were so very horrible!! I will be out in Nag Hamadi and Sohag next month. (Denderah & the Burnt Monastery) And yes I teach in Cairo. Last year I taught at St. Fatima School in Nasr City. (Middle & High School) I am teaching Peace Education and Critical Thinking. This will allow the younger people who will be running the country to respond and think about their actions instead of just reacting. (As they do now)
I also agree with you regarding the secularists, MB, and Salafi's. I have come up against the MB on a few occasions in meetings with Rotary International. It was not pleasant. I avoid the Salafi's because to me they are very ignorant and need to remain out in the villages. I was out in Baharaya and experienced some of them.
The bringing in of the extremists from Saudi really do bother me. But it is AMAZING watching the Egyptian people!! This is why I have so much faith in them. They can tell who the Saudi's are (I think by their accents). They will speak to them and if the Saudi's say something wrong they will be told to go back and not to take Egypt.
Also, the Libyans in Egypt are supportive of the Egyptians. (I have several Libyan students) After ambassador Stevens was killed (I knew him) the Libyans came out against the Salafi's and MB. So, even though, there are not that many Libyans in country they are (and will) help the Egyptian Liberals and Secularists.
It truly is amazing and wonderful to watch. I hope there will not be any more bloodshed, but the Liberals, Secularists, Copts, and (especially) the women will not go backwards. The thing I hope is that Egypt can avoid a civil war.
No matter what, though, Coptic Christian, please know that there are others here (like me) who will continue to do what we can to watch and help keep Egypt beautiful and free.
I have never really followed these posts because they usually frustrate me, but because of you I will begin to watch them.
Take care my friend.
Thank you drjill and Merry Christmas and happy new year. I hope you will continue to help the Egyptian cause and continue to post on this website because you can give us an accurate report on what is going on in Egypt, something that it is sorely needed in the States.
Well, Egypt, you have elected the Muslim Brotherhood's poster boy -- a pompous, fat dictator-wannabe -- and you will now see what having a bad government is really about. If you thought Hosni Mubarrak was bad, just wait until the morality police begin swatting at your women with pool cues. Just wait until your young girls are killed with thrown acid, and your girls' schools are blown up by car bombs. Just wait until your women must wear burkhas and not go out of the house without a male family member. Just wait until your women must buy their lingerie and clothing from bearded male salespeople. Just wait until the brotherhood comes house to house to make sure you have your Koran properly displayed. Just wait until your neighbors are set on fire for allegedly desecrating the Koran -- whether they actually do it or not. Just wait until all your TV and radio stations have only Muslim-friendly programming -- like those nice documentaries out of Palestine showing Israelis eating a Muslim boy after beating him to death. You will absolutely love the Muslim Brotherhood. Never mind that they have just been arrested in Saudi Arabia for teaching people how to overthrow Arab governments. You asked for it, folks, now prepare to tear down the pyramids and the sphinx, since the MB considers them idols in front of Allah.
Now that the authoritarian dictatorship was toppled, we have a newly imposed radical Islamic dictatorship in Egypt. There may be many Egyptians who dream of freedom and democracy, but they are about to be crushed and silenced by the Islamic regime.
Well the world knew this was coming. Bunch of loons ruining a country.
That comment applies to a lot of countries nowadays.
Egypt doesn't like to be called Saudi Arabia "West Bank"? Iraq loves to be called the "East Bank" - thanks America for securing more Muslim Territory for the Saudi Royal Family!
Know Middle East, No Peace.
No Middle East, Know Peace.
Join Humanity's Campaign to Remove the Middle East from Earth
Indigo~Rage....Egypt is in NORTH AFRICA!!! NOT the Middle East!! If you study Egypt at the University level you study it either in Egyptology, Archeology, & Oriental Studies!!! NOT Middle Eastern Studies!! Also please change your name....I did the research and work on the Indigo Children and you are DEFINITELY NOT one of them!!!
drjill, while Egypt is in North Africa, it's also part of the Middle East which is all the Arab Countries plus Turkey and Iran.
Not in academic circles Coptic Christian. Even at the AUC Egypt is studied in Oriental Studies....not Middle Eastern Studies. it is true it is a part of the Arab League. This is one of the reasons why Egypt is truly so wonderful. It is a mixture of so many cultures and has a rich and long history. It wasn't considered Arab until the Ottoman Empire. One of the things I want people here in the U.S. to know is that Egypt is NOT what they portray in the news.
Do you still live in Egypt? A few of the members of the Synod and Babba Shenouda helped me when I was studying for my Ph.D. When I take students over we spend quite a bit of time at Wadi Natrun. It is one of my favorite places. You are part of such a wonderful history. If it were not for your ancestors, Christianity would not have grown and spread. Very few of the people in the U.S. even now or consider how the early Egyptians kept the Holy Family safe. I live very close to St. George's on El Hagez Street. Last year I taught at St. Fatima School in Nasr City.
I am glad you are commenting on things here.
If the U.S. operated this way, we'd have to build a lot more jails.
Egypt. Iran. Same, same.
If Congress can stop fighting for a few minutes, they ought to insure that none of our money goes to Egypt.
I nagree .no money to Egypt
King Morsi must go! Start a REVOLUTION!!
Out with the old, in with the same!
Islamic fanatic will turn the country into police state and shut up any body who oppose them .the Islamic police state is composed from official police authority and fanatic become another police force to kill ,and beat up any one for the name of Allah. The Muslim fanatic impose them self as prosecutor and executor . and once they get the blame for their barbaric behavior. They blame the Christian by spreading rumor that Christian protestors are drinking and they found beer with the protester and they ignore the fact that Egyptian does not have money to buy bread .how they are able to buy beer. Muslim fanatic are liar and violent .once Bassam expose their liar. They are going to put him in jail. There is no democracy in Egypt. democracy can not exist with Islam.
We should care, because?
what a bunch of freaks. i am sure glad i don't live there. that Mohammed Morsi must be some hot sh_t. nothing but trouble makers. those Muslims always look bad about something. they have made it bad for everyone for a long time and looks like they want to keep on going.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
These people have no idea what the real world really is, do they. Making jokes about a president is a given past time in the real world. Only in a country run by Muslims is it a problem.
Separation of state and religion. As good as it gets.
Egyptians have traded one dictator for another. This new one is a Muslim extremist.
Morsi is Obama's guy. Don't make fun of him.
This comes right after a protester was killed. Morsi warned the Egyptian people that protest would no longer be tolerated. This is, of course, just the beginning. The Muslim Brotherhood is the worst Islamist org. in the world and the Obama admin. is helping install them. Notice how the admin. hasn't said a word about the democracy that Morsi has brought to Egypt?
Morsi, is supposed to be this Western educated reasonable man. So far, I haven't seen that side to him at all.
Where is he?
When you give any Religion a free hand-------"That's what happens"-----Bye, Bye, freedom!!!