Cairo: Discontent swirls in Egypt, as the state cracked the whip on a number of different fronts, from academic to cultural. However, it reversed course with the sentencing of Patrick Zaki, a rights researcher who had been studying in Italy.
A day after he was sentenced to three years in prison, accused of spreading false news, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi pardoned him alongside prominent lawyer Mohamed el-Baqer.
Concurrently, it was reported US rapper Travis Scott has been banned from holding a concert at the foothills of the Giza pyramids.
The Egyptian Musicians Syndicate allows many international artists to perform there, but said Scott’s music would “contradict the identity of the Egyptian people”. Concert producer Live Nation Middle East, however, disputes the cancellation, saying the show is going ahead as planned.–Agencies
