Yasser Borhamy, vice president of the Salafi Dawah in Alexandria, issued a fatwa Tuesday banning Muslims from mocking comedian Bassem Youssef and talk-show host Ibrahim Eissa.
Youssef and Eissa are known for their acerbic criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood and President Mohamed Morsy. Many also refer to the men using nicknames that poke fun at their expense.
A salafis website quoted Borhamy as saying the use of nicknames that mock media professionals is against Sharia, even if they regularly make fun of religious figures and do not support Sharia law.
"I do not believe that this is correct even if they do so, because Allah ordered us to repel evil with what is better and He said, ‘…nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames.’”
Youssef’s show Al-Bernameg airs on CBC while Eissa's talk show Huna al-Qahira is featurfed on the Al-Qahera Wal Nas channel.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
