Amr Waked and Khaled Abol Naga are stars in their countries. Known as much for their roles and for their criticisms of the government of egypt. The two players have met on Monday, march 25, members of the u.s. Congress to discuss the situation of human rights in Egypt. At the end of this exchange, they come to be accused of «high treason against the nation and the egyptian people» for wanting to harm «the security and stability of Egypt,» says the trade union of actors, favorable to the power.
Egyptian actors Amr Waked and Khaled Abol Naga met with US lawmakers to rally against proposed constitutional changes that would enshrine military rule in Egypt. Finally someone did the right thing. Finally someone spoke on behalf of the Egyptian people. Much respect for both of you. pic.twitter.com/hsUz5sSGNg
— Mb Kamal (@JrMoe_) march 27, 2019
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Ashraf Zaki, the president of the union declares that «the two actors will not be allowed to play in Egypt,» and adds that «the decision prohibits the hire». A decision criticised on Twitter, qualified as «political» by Waked and «early bird» by Abol Naga. Followed by millions of subscribers, these movie stars have played in several films and television series in Egypt and abroad.
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Amr Waked, recently reported to have been prevented from renewing his passport from the consular authorities of egypt, after having denounced the constitutional reform in progress. Currently being debated by a parliament largely vested in the government, this reform intends to increase the power of the army and the executive. It would also allow president Sisi to remain in office twelve years after the end of his second term in 2022.
Freedom of expression gagged
Since the coming to power of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 for a second term, many opponents, journalists and artists were imprisoned. Last week, the egyptian writer Alaa El Aswany, author of the famous novel The Yacoubian building and I ran to the Nile stated that it was «accused in a military affair» for his positions anti-Sissi. He is prosecuted by the public prosecutor-general military of his country for «insulting the president, the armed forces and the judicial institutions of the egyptians».
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A great pop star, the singer Sherine Abdel Wahab has also been banned temporarily from exercising by the musicians ‘ Union, after ironisé on the lack of freedom of expression in Egypt. Initially, she had been sentenced in February 2018 to six months in jail after a simple joke on the Nile. She had, in fact, criticized the quality of the waters of the river.
local and international NGOS accuse regularly to Egypt to violate it to suppress dissent and violate human rights. But The government denies this, and puts the emphasis on the «maintaining stability in the country».