None of the opposition figures or comedians in Egypt was successful in defying the ‘halo' that the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) in Egypt wanted to bestow upon the presidential seat ever since they obtained it last June like Al-Bernameg's host, Bassem Youssef. Youssef did not need a media campaign to promote his show, but he got it nonetheless when he was summoned by the (MB-affiliated) prosecutor-general, Talaat Abdallah, to be questioned on charges related to insulting religion and President Mohammad Morsi. Bassem Youssef's Al-Bernameg has the highest viewing rate on You Tube among all the satirical shows in Egypt and perhaps the Arab world. His show has become a synonym of the January 25 revolution and its goals. From a small room in his apartment at the beginning of the revolution and the Tahrir Square protests, this doctor turned overnight into a creative satirical artist. His show became a monitor and critic of the political movement in Egypt starting with the performance of the MB in power, to the performance of the opposition and the “Salvation Front" and their failure and dismantlement in the face of the MB rule. Today, as the Muslim Brothers chase after Bassem Youssef, too few remember that he also criticized the opposition members. His criticism of the opposition was even sometimes crueler and harsher. Youssef was inspired by the famous Daily Show and its host, Jon Stewart. There is nothing wrong with this, since the Egyptian version of the show is very local and addresses Egyptian issues in a patriotic manner. It also aims for reform and for confronting the ruling system's abuses and excesses without becoming a cheap political comedy show like most of the Arab satirical shows these days. Jon Stewart became an adversary to the American Right and the Republican Party. George Bush became his constant object of satire and his show turned into a platform for the Democratic Party to regain access to the White House during Barack Obama's first presidential campaign. Similarly, Bassem Youssef's Al-Bernameg is now playing the same role by being a platform for the campaign of the Egyptian opposition against Mohammad Morsi. The latest judiciary campaign against Bassem Youssef is due to his intense criticism and satire of the MB' actions represented in mixing religious and political affairs to such an extent that the MB accuses all those who criticize Mohammad Morsi's decisions as being heretics. Youssef is not insulting any religious beliefs as per the charges against him, but is rather calling for the need to make a distinction between criticizing a man for his bad performance and between this man's religious convictions. In other words, Morsi's affiliation to the MB does not mean that the president's decisions and positions cannot be criticized. It is not an exaggeration to say that the fate of Bassem Youssef's Al-Bernameg will determine the fate of freedoms in Egypt after the revolution. If these freedoms are preserved, whether through the media or on political and partisan platforms, this means that the revolution's goals are fine because they are still under the direct supervision of the parties and the media. The Journalist Union, presided by Diaa Rashwan, can play the part of the guarantor by defending the freedom of expression and the right of journalists in speaking up against the rulers.
