Salafist MP Younis Makhioun, of Egypt’s religious and conservative al-Nour party, yesterday requested a debate on banning pornographic websites.

In 2009, a court ordered such material banned, but the Ministry of Communications declined, citing individual responsibility. If a majority of the Islamist-dominated parliament supported a ban the ministry would then be able to enforce one. Around a quarter of seats belong to al-Nour.

Although some sections of the public complained about limitations upon free expression and feared new powers could creep to include other forms of censorship, Makhioun said he did not feel porn counted as free speech.

Despite this, figures from Google show Egypt in the top five nations searching the Internet for ‘sex’.

Read more: Wikinews.org