The arrest of an Egyptian media personality this week made national headlines, and attracted attention from local Arab Americans who say they’re concerned about the case, which has led to questions about free speech in the north African nation. 

On Monday Egypt’s government was accused by the United States of tampering with free speech rights after prosecutors called for the arrest of Bassem Youssef, a comedian and popular television host who’s been compared to  Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show. 

Youssef.

Youssef was questioned by prosecutors after he reportedly insulted President Mohamed Mursi and Islam.   U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland pointed out that Egyptian officials were prosecuting Youssef while ignoring or playing-down attacks on anti-government protestors.  

“We are watching a disturbing trend emerge with increasing restrictions on freedoms including the freedom of speech and expression in mainstream media. There is a movement towards making Morsi synonymous with Islam to attempt to prosecute individuals who criticize the president accusing them of criticizing the religion. This became evident in the latest move of issuing an arrest warrant for Bassem Yousef the satirist accusing him of insulting the president and the religion of Islam,” said Dr. Ola Elsaid, CEO of Sleep Consultants. 

Youssef became popular after the 2011 uprisings in Egypt that led to the ousting of longtime Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.  A warrant was issued for his arrest last Saturday by the prosecutor general.  He was later released on bail of 15,000 Egyptian pounds ($2,200). He stands accused of insulting Islam and Mursi.  

Dr. Elsaid says for a government to blame a satirist for the disorder in the country might be an indication the government does not know where the real problems are or where the priorities lie. 

“Any attempt to control what people see, hear and read is an attempt at producing political zombies who will vote whichever way they are directed by the media of the Freedom and Justice party,” she said. 

 “I am glad to hear the attempt at silencing Bassem has failed at least this time, everyone is waiting for his episode on Friday and he has promised not to hold back.”