A Cairo court has turned down a lawsuit filed by an Islamist lawyer, which demanded Bassem Youssef's television show be banned for allegedly insulting the president and containing sexual innuendo on his program, the Associated Press reported. Judge Hassouna Wawfiq said the lawsuit was dropped since the plaintiff did not have an interest in the case. Youssef is not completely off the hook just yet, as he still faces other investigations related to the show. This ruling, however, may set a precedent.
Youssef, seen as Egypt's equivalent to Jon Stewart, is a frequent satirist of President Muhammad Morsi and the ruling party, Muslim Brotherhood.
Chief Brotherhood lawyer Abdel-Moneim Maqsoud told the AP that plaintiff Mahmoud Abul-Enein filed the case on his own without involving the Islamist group. Islamist lawyers have filed numerous legal complaints against the comedian, mostly for lampooning their political or religious opinions. Opposition groups underscore that such lawsuits present a wider campaign by the Muslim Brotherhood to intimidate critics in Egypt, since they took over government two years ago.
Free speech has been severely hampered under their watch, as have the rights of minority groups, like Christians, and for women.
Washington has also kept a watchful eye on its crackdown.
In his written opinion, Judge Wawfiq explained that "it is clear from the statement released by the president's office ... that the presidency is not going to file a complaint against media personality Bassem Youssef or anyone else out of respect for freedom of expression.""It is the right of citizens to express themselves freely far from restrictions and the presidency urges respect for the law," the judge added.
Brotherhood lawyer Abul-Enein filed the suit demanding the suspension of the license of the private satellite TV channel, the Capital Broadcasting Center, which broadcasts the show. He claimed Youssef's program "corrupted morals" and violated "religious principles."
"Not everything has to be about the president. This isn't fear. I am not pulling back," Youssef said about his show, undeterred by the controversy swirling around him. He is also unfazed by threats that have been levied at him.
His show on Friday continued to mock Morsi and also a new target: his attorney general, news reports said.
Despite the Muslim Brotherhood decrying his show, his Facebook page reveals he is most popular, attaining over 2.2 million "likes."
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