Egypt satirist who mocked Sisi cancels show

Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef said on Monday he has cancelled his television show which mocked ex-army chief and president-in-waiting Abdel Fattah al-Sisi because of "enormous" pressure.

The heart surgeon turned comedian, often compared to US satirist Jon Stewart, had moved to Saudi-owned channel MBC last year after his show was suspended by the private Egyptian broadcaster CBC.

MBC's Egyptian affiliate which aired the weekly show Al Bernameg (The Programme) said in April the show would be taken off air in May to avoid "influencing" the presidential election that Sisi won.

"The circumstances and pressure were more enormous than anyone," Youssef said at a press conference. "We preferred to end the programme rather than demean it."

Sisi won last week's election with more than 90 per cent of the vote, riding a wave of nationalistic fervour after deposing the elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July.

Youssef had mocked the cult like adulation of Sisi's supporters, and increasing intolerance of criticism of the retired field marshal and the army.

He also faced prosecution under the divisive Morsi, who the army overthrew after millions of protesters demanded his resignation.

Since then, the military-installed government has launched a crackdown on Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood in which at least 1,400 people died in street clashes.

More than 15,000 people have been arrested, including secular activists who protested against the new regime.

"This isn't a suitable atmosphere for a comedy show," Youssef said.

 

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