Egypt’s El-Sisi says freedom of expression stops at offending more than 1.5 billion people

Egypt’s El-Sisi says freedom of expression stops at offending more than 1.5 billion people
President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi addresses the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters on September 24, 2019 in New York City. (File/AFP)
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Updated 28 October 2020
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Egypt’s El-Sisi says freedom of expression stops at offending more than 1.5 billion people

Egypt’s El-Sisi says freedom of expression stops at offending more than 1.5 billion people
  • El-Sisi said he firmly rejects any form of violence or terrorism from anyone in the name of defending religion

CAIRO: Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Wednesday freedom of expression should stop if it offends more than 1.5 billion people, following the display of images in France of the Prophet Muhammad.
El-Sisi also said he firmly rejects any form of violence or terrorism from anyone in the name of defending religion, religious symbols or icons.
“We also have rights. We have the right for our feelings not to be hurt and for our values not to be hurt,” he said during an address to commemorate the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
“And if some have the freedom to express what is in their thoughts I imagine that this stops when it comes to offending the feelings of more than 1.5 billion people,” he added in televised remarks.