Accessibility links

Breaking News

Egyptian Satirist Released After Questioning


Bassem Youssef (C), the country's best-known satirist, gestures to journalists and activists as he arrives at the high court to appear at the prosecutor's office in Cairo Mar. 31, 2013.
Bassem Youssef (C), the country's best-known satirist, gestures to journalists and activists as he arrives at the high court to appear at the prosecutor's office in Cairo Mar. 31, 2013.
Egypt's most popular television satirist was released on bail Sunday, after five hours of questioning over allegations that he insulted Islam and President Mohamed Morsi.

Bassem Youssef turned himself in after the prosecutor general issued an arrest warrant for him on Saturday. He was released on bail of $2,200.

Youssef weekly pokes fun at public figures and the media.

Deputy chief prosecutor Hassan Yassin denied that his long interrogation was part of an intimidation campaign.

Arrest warrants also have been issued for five other anti-government activists accused of instigating violence.

Opposition groups contend the Egyptian government is intensifying a crackdown on dissent, and that this has put at risk the safety of freedom of expression in the country.
  • 16x9 Image

    VOA News

    The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.

XS
SM
MD
LG