Egypt’s prosecutors issue arrest warrant for popular TV satiristMarch 30, 2013 - 20:32 AMT 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. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |