Egypt bans singer from performing over free-speech remarks

Associated Press in Cairo
Sat 23 Mar 2019 14.55 GMT

An Egyptian singer has been banned from performing in her home country after she suggested it does not respect free speech.

An online video clip shows Sherine Abdel-Wahab saying during a performance in Bahrain: “Here I can say whatever I want. In Egypt, anyone who talks gets imprisoned.”

Egypt’s Musicians Union responded late on Friday by barring the singer, popularly known by her first name, from performing. It also summoned her for questioning.

Samir Sabry, a pro-government lawyer with a reputation for moral vigilantism and suing celebrities, filed a complaint against the singer accusing her of “insulting Egypt and inviting suspicious rights groups to interfere in Egypt’s affairs”.

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