(AP) – Egypt’s official news agency says state prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for a popular TV satirist for allegedly insulting Islam and the country’s president.
The warrant issued Saturday is the latest in a series of legal actions against Bassem Youssef, known as Egypt’s Jon Stewart.
Youssef’s widely-watched weekly show has become a platform for parodying the government, opposition, media and clerics.
The comedian has faced a number of lawsuits in the past accusing him of insulting Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, and “corrupting morals.”
One of Youssef’s attorneys, Gamal Eid, said this is the first time an arrest warrant has been issued for Youssef, however.
The warrant comes amid what the opposition says is a widening government crackdown against its ranks, fueling concerns about freedoms of expression and assembly.
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