Egypt’s Justice Minister has been “relieved” of his post, amid widespread criticism of televised comments he made that many considered blasphemous.
Ahmed al-Zind was stood down on Sunday, according to Egyptian state media.
No official reason was given for the sacking but the move comes days after al-Zind, in response to a television host’s question regarding whether he would imprison journalists, answered: “Even if it was Prophet [Mohammed].”
The comment caused widespread criticism on social media and spawned a Twitter hashtag calling for him to be tried.
Al-Zind quickly issued an apology, describing the comment as a “slip of the tongue.”
He had been Egypt’s Justice Minister since May last year.