CAIRO, Nov 18 (Aswat Masriya) – A Cairo-based rights group condemned the report filed against an Egyptian actor accusing him of "treason" for criticising President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Actor Khaled Abol Naga came under heavy criticism by media outlets after he made critical comments to the media on Sisi's performance as president. 

Lawyer Samir Sabry filed a report to the prosecutor general on Sunday against the actor, accusing him of "treason" and disturbing national security.

The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) called on Egypt's judiciary to "take a stance" against such reports." It said that people who file such reports use them to "settle political scores or oppress the opposition."

"Since when has the act of criticising a state official warranted an accusation of treason?"ANHRI questioned in a statement on Monday. It described the accusations leveled against Abol Naga as "illogical".

Almost 50 artists and filmmakers announced on Monday their solidarity with Abol Naga in a joint statement. The artists stressed Abol Naga's right to "express his opinion without being terrorised by self-proclaimed guardians of the Egyptian nationalism …"

The artists stressed that the right to freedom of expression is enshrined in the new constitution, which passed in a landslide vote last January. They called for cancelling Sabry's membership at the Lawyers' Syndicate, accusing him of "violating a right preserved in the constitution."

Article 65 of the constitution preserves the right to freedom of thought and expression, adding that everyone is "entitled to express their opinion verbally, in written or printed form or in any other means of expression or publication."

In an interview held at the sidelines of the 36th Cairo International Film Festival, Abol Naga criticised the decision to cancel the festival during previous years, condemning what he termed the "security's way of thought."

The festival was not held twice since the January 2011 uprising which toppled former President Hosni Mubarak. It was cancelled in 2011 and 2013 due to political instability and security concerns.

The actor also criticised the state's recent measures in the Sinai Peninsula. Security forces began evacuating the area bordering Sinai's Rafah on October 28, as one of the steps taken in response to militant attacks on security personnel in the Peninsula on October 24 which left over 33 killed.

"If you can't secure [the country] without taking away the people's rights, then you can't be in your position," Abol Naga told reporters, critical of the displacement of Sinai residents. "Looks like we'll be saying 'leave' soon again."