The United States has expressed concern at the state of freedom of expression in Egypt, after the cuontry's top prosecutor recently issued an arrest warrant for a popular TV satirist.
Speaking at a press briefing, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said,
"This coupled with recent arrest warrants issued for other political activists is evidence of a disturbing trend of growing restrictions on the freedom of expression... we have concerns that freedom of expression is being stifled. This is something that came up when Secretary Kerry was in Egypt. He raised human rights concerns, including freedom of the press, with President Morsy, and we will continue to raise these concerns."
TV satirist Bassem Youssef has an arrest warrant issued over charges of offending Islam by "making fun of the prayer ritual" and insulting Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi by "making fun of his international standing".
There were also reports that Youssef was among at least 20 opposition figures who were arrested by Egyptian authorities for allegedly inciting violence against the Muslim Brotherhood.
