An Egyptian singer has been banned from performing in her home country after suggesting it does not respect free speech.
A video clip circulated online shows Sherine Abdel-Wahab, during a performance in Bahrain, saying: "Here I can say whatever I want. In Egypt, anyone who talks gets imprisoned."
Egypt's MusiciansUnion responded on Saturday 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".
Last year, she was sentenced to six months in prison over a similar clip from a concert in which she joked that the Nile was polluted. The sentence was suspended on appeal. She apologised for the remark, calling it a "bad joke".
The singer, who hosts the Arabic version of The Voice, apologised again after the latest remarks in a TV interview, saying she was joking: "I am very tired. I made a mistake. I am sorry. I appeal to the president of the Arab Republic of Egypt, who is our father. I feel that I was persecuted. I did nothing. I love Egypt."
Egyptian authorities have waged an unprecedented crackdown on dissent since President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi led the military overthrow of an elected but divisive Islamist president in 2013.
The local media is dominated by pro-government outlets that attack anyone seen as criticising the country or its leaders. Thousands of people have been jailed or forced to leave the country since el-Sissi came to power.
