Egypt satirist goes off air to avoid influencing voters

Cairo: Egyptian satirist Bassem Yousuf will stay off the air until after next month’s presidential election to avoid influencing voters, his television network said on Saturday.

The May 26-27 vote is widely expected to be won by former army chief Abdul Fattah Al Sisi, who is riding a wave of popularity after ousting Islamist president Mohammad Mursi in July 2013.

Yousuf, nicknamed the “Egyptian Jon Stewart” after the American comedian he emulates, rose to prominence with his weekly show Al Bernamej, poking fun at Mursi and his supporters during the Islamist’s turbulent year in office.

The former heart surgeon would be on holiday until May 30, the Saudi-owned MBC Masr television channel said in a statement.

The decision was taken to “avoid influencing the Egyptian voters’ opinions and public opinion”, the channel said, adding it was “keen on respecting the electoral process” in Egypt.

Since his show returned in October, Yousuf has turned his attention to Egypt’s interim authorities, poking fun at Al Sissi and the frenzy surrounding him at a time when few dare to criticise the retired field marshal.

A tide of resurgent nationalism has swept Egypt, with Al Sissi hailed by supporters as the country’s saviour for driving Mursi from power in July and launching a bloody crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood.

Yousuf was prosecuted under Mursi’s rule, allegedly for “threatening public security” and “insulting religion”.