Popular Egyptian Cartoonist Arrested Over ‘Anti-Government Drawings’

Security forces arrested Egyptian cartoonist Islam Gawish on Sunday for “managing a Facebook page without a license,” according to local media outlets.

Other charges included running a news website without a license and spreading false information. The general prosecution ordered Gawish’s arrest after a complaint was filed against him.

According to a statement released through the cartoonist’s official Facebook page, however, Gawish was detained for publishing drawings criticising President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s regime.

The page also announced the suspension of all artistic works because of the arrest. Gawish is scheduled to face prosecution Monday morning.