Egyptian Comedian Accused of Mocking Quran Radio Released
The prosecution ordered the release of Mohamed Ashraf, a young stand-up comedian, who was detained on November 12 after a video of one of his performances that dated back to January went viral online, Al-Ahram reported.
During his two-minute stand-up comedy performance at 'The Glocal Show’ event, Ashraf tells jokes about the popular radio station’s broadcasters' elocution. He mocks their techniques, describing their way as “peculiar.”
The video sparked a wave of outrage, with authorities urged to question Ashraf over his performance after receiving a complaint from the National Media Authority and the State Radio and TV Union, to which the station is affiliated.
Ashraf published a video before his detention apologizing to the station's hosts.
“First, I apologize to everyone who took my performance in a wrong way and thought that I was mocking the station, I especially apologize to the radio hosts in the Holy Quran station because I did not mean to mock or belittle anyone. I only imitate the radio hosts,” he said.
Ashraf added that he spoke directly with the station’s famous host Hagar Saad El-Din, whom he mentioned in the performance, and apologized to her personally in a telephone call, saying that he did not mean to belittle anyone, and that she accepted his apology.
