Egypt TV journalist taken off air for 'insulting Sisi'

An Egyptian talk show host has been taken off the air, amid accusations that authorities pulled the programme for being overly critical of the government.

Ibrahim Eissa said on Sunday that his eponymous show had been cancelled "at his request" so he could take time off to focus on writing, according to a statement from his broadcaster Al Qahera Wel Nas.

"Eissa said the reason for his decision was to lessen his workload and focus on his writing and creative projects in the coming period," the statement read.

The TV personality also issued a statement, in which he explained the reason for his departure was "current events" and that the "pressures" created by the show's popularity had led him to cancel the programme.

Eissa has long been an outspoken critic of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

In February, he was one of the first media figures to lash out at Sisi, claiming that he presided over a "theocracy" that is no different to the Islamist-led government that the president – then defence minister – overthrew in 2013.

Eissa has also been a critic of Saudi Arabia, accusing the kingdom funding the Islamic State group and destroying Egyptian culture by exporting its ultraconservative interpretation of Sunni Islam.

Other talk show hosts have jumped to the defence of Eissa since he has gone public with his resignation.

Amr Adib warned on Sunday that the Egyptian government was attempting to crush any dissent in the media.

"Everyone in Egypt knows that Eissa didn't step down to lighten his workload and go write novels… we will soon be in an era where there will be no opposition," Adib said.

Rights activists accuse Sisi of running an authoritarian regime that has violently suppressed all opposition since toppling Islamist president Mohammad Morsi in 2013.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has accused Egypt of placing restrictions on media and being a "leading jailer of journalists".

Sisi has dismissed criticisms of media restrictions in Egypt, but he regularly complains about its performance and has suggested it occasionally harms the country with critical coverage.