Egyptian singer banned in her home country after free-speech jibe

Egyptian singer Sherine Abdel-Wahab. Photo / AP

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 Musicians Union 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.

- AP