Public prosecutor Abdel Meguid Mahmoud has denied issuing a gag order pertaining to the investigation of President Mohamed Morsy’s charges of libel and slander against Tawfiq Okasha, host of the Egypt Today talk show on Al-Faraeen satellite channel.
Okasha gave his testimony to prosecutors on Thursday, denying that he had called Morsy a homosexual and claiming that the voiceover of his show had been tampered with, so he was not responsible for certain statements Morsy claimed he had made.
The talk show host also said that similar complaints filed against him by the Muslim Brotherhood and the Freedom and Justice Party him are unjustified, as statements he had made against the two groups were substantiated with evidence.
Okasha was released Thursday pending investigation.
As he gave his testimony, dozens of Okasha supporters gathered outside the prosecution building to stand by him.
One of the most controversial TV hosts in Egypt, Okasha is an ardent supporter of the ruling military junta. He recently led demonstrations condemning the Brotherhood after Morsy’s presidential victory, who in turn called for banning Okasha from appearing on television.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
