The State Commissioners of the Administrative Court on Thursday issued a legal opinion regarding an appeal filed by a Muslim Brotherhood lawyer over the prosecution of popular comedian and satirist Bassem Youssef.
The lawyer had appealed against a court ruling rejecting his request to halt Youssef's hugely successful Al-Bernameg show.
The State Commissioners report said the president is a post traditionally respected and revered by the Egyptian people. It is the symbol of the state, it claimed.
The report said that when deposed President Mohamed Morsy announced on 2 April he would not pursue the prosecution of Youssef, then accused of insulting Islam and the president, Morsy betrayed his duty as Egyptian president and tarnished the image of his position.
Morsy claimed he would drop charges against Youssef out of respect for freedom of expression.
President Morsy had no right to act on personal convictions, the State Commissioners report added, but should have acted in his capacity as president.
The report meanwhile warned that freedom of expression should respect wider societal values and morals in Egypt, not attack others or waste efforts by the state.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
