Egyptian “democracy” is an endless comedy if you’re not suffering at the hands of it. Last month, Amr Hamroush, a graduate of Al-Ahzar Institute and a member of the Egyptian Parliament as well as secretary of the Committee of Religious Affairs and Endowments introduced a resolution to criminalize the act of “insulting historic figures.” Hamroush’s resolution is written in vague terms and lacks definition for “historic figures and symbols.”

Using the term “mockers” for those who criticize and “insult,” the bill’s author says the issue will not be up for public debate. Such would have a negative and dangerous effect on Egyptians, he adds. The parliamentary bill was under review for the entire month of October and is now up for discussion in the fall session.

Historically, Egypt’s government addressed restrictions on speech just two other times. The more recent was an amendment to the constitution in 1977 called “The Law of Defective Values.” With this, Sadat muzzled opposition voices to his visit to Israel and the subsequent signing of the Camp David peace treaty. Many years earlier when King Farouk came under criticism by Egyptians, he amended the 1923 constitution by adding “The Law of Perfection of the Royal Identity” and included the statement, “The king is the supreme head of the state and above criticism.”