Free speech in Egypt has just been dealt a blow with the arrest of a television presenter for parodying the Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.
Government sources say Bassem Youssef was arrested after at least four people complained about his political satire. A senior aide pointed to the need to distinguish "freedom of expression and thuggery".
The opposition see the move in a more sinister light, activists say the Islamist-dominated government is clamping down on free speech.
If he was hoping for leniency, he did himself no favours when he arrived for police questioning in a hat parodying one Mr Morsi wore on a recent state visit.
In countries where free speech is an ingrained cultural expectation, a light-hearted joke about public figures is a form of entertainment practiced by mainstream actors and actresses. If restrictions on free speech were in place in the USA, this nugget of gold would never have seen the light of day. Former US President George W Bush was a leader who left himself open to public ridicule, and Will Ferrell took full advantage in this 2007 parody:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjfxEejS2Y
Whether you love Will Ferrell or hate him, his right to say whatever he wanted about his country's leader without reprisal is a privelege.
Mr Youssef was freed after five hours of questioning on $2,200 bail.
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