Satirist jailed in Egypt over video

The admin of a satirical Facebook group has been arrested in Egypt over a video mocking the government, local media has reported.

Ali Khalid Mukhtar, known as Chico, is a popular figure in Egypt: he runs the Facebook page Tamt Tarjamah, and is a writer for the beloved and irreverent comedy show Abla Fahita. 

But this wasn’t enough to protect him from authorities after a video he made – poking fun at a speech made by Egypt’s President, General Abdel Fattah el Sisi – was widely shared over the weekend. He was reported arrested by Tarek Khater, a lawyer for the Arabic Network for Human Rights, who said police had detained him after on Saturday and kept him overnight.

Charges against him included encouraging protests against the regime and being a member of a banned political party, according to local website Nmisr.

Chico’s arrest sparked outrage online. Many young Egyptians slammed the government’s moves against of freedom of speech – and accused authorities of attempting to conceal their economic and social failures by cracking down on comedians and writers. 

لما متعرفش تمشي حالك امسك بتاع الكوميكس #شيكو_بتاع_كوميكس#شيكو_ملوش_في_السياسة#تمت_الترجمة https://t.co/7svNmF9I9E

— Hesham Zakareya (@4MahseH) 24 October 2016

When you can’t handle your issues, catch the comics man.

That’s more than enough for the “Year of the Youth”, Mr. President. Arresting young people who make people laugh is a really spreading bad climate. 

ماتدورش على اللي عملوا أزمة السكر وأمسك شيكو عشان فيديو الحصالة!#مدينة_البط#شيكو_بتاع_كوميكس#تمت_الترجمة

— Fareeda Mohamed (@FareedaMohamed) 24 October 2016

Don’t look for those responsible for Sugar crisis, just arrest Chico because of the money box video.

The arrest comes at a time of heightened tension in Egypt, where increasing economic woes are causing national admiration, and even patience, for general Sisi to wear thin. Prices are rising, subsidies on essentials are under threat, and further devaluation of the Egyptian pound means many citizens feel the ability to feed their families is under threat. 

The video in question took aim at the government’s response to the instability – and specifically a recent speech in which Sisi asked managers of national banks to collect space change from their customers, as part of a fundraising drive for national projects. It mocked the idea of a money box, caricaturing Sisi as a collector of loose coins.

This is hardly the first time such a campaign has been mocked by the Egyptian public. In June, a campaign depicting a poor grandmother who sold her earrings for the national fund was slammed by the nation’s tweeters, who took issue with the idea that ordinary people should make such sacrifices for the national coffers.

BS