( CNN ) -- Every country has an unofficial doctrine -- a mantra if you will . In America , it 's the `` independent spirit . '' In Germany , it 's the `` no-nonsense work ethic . '' In Egypt , well , in Egypt it was always `` laughter through adversity . '' Until now . Adel Imam , one of Egypt 's most beloved comedic actors , was sentenced to jail for insulting Islam . Not for something he said but for roles he played in films . Yes , you read that right . That 's like sentencing Edward Norton to life in prison for his role in `` American History X . '' What makes this court ruling even more preposterous is that these films are not recent films . They are pre-revolution films that were approved by the former government . Last week a court upheld a three-month prison sentence given to the 71-year old actor in February for `` insulting '' Islam in his films `` Morgan Ahmed Morgan '' and `` Al-Zaeem . '' It was one of two cases brought against him by an Islamist lawyer , although the second case was last week overturned , according to Amnesty International . As a child , I remember watching Adel Iman films when I visited my family in Egypt during summer break . Even with my broken Arabic , his mix of wit , facial expressions and physical humor amused me endlessly . Egyptians have long been envied for their ability to tell a joke . Over the decades they created films , television series and plays that delighted audiences across the region . One can say that in Cairo , a city with nearly 20 million people living in a space the size of my bedroom , it 's impossible to get by without a sense of humor . See also : Comic explores a changed Cairo . But this long and proud history is in serious jeopardy . And if it collapses , I firmly believe so does Egypt 's hope for a better future . As an Egyptian-American comedian , I had the opportunity to be part of the rise of stand-up comedy in the region . During my first show in Cairo , maybe four or five years ago , I remember one local comedian was so nervous because he thought he `` might be arrested '' by the government just for telling jokes . Earlier this year I had the opportunity to produce the first stand-up comedy show post-Egyptian revolution . I remember the buzz in the air as comedians made light of a tense situation -- the ouster of Hosni Mubarak and the uncertainty of the country . As a performer , I was able to address , for the first time in my shows , sexual harassment and the religious hypocrisy of `` complete religious freedom as long as you 're Muslim or Christian . '' We even had a female comedian wearing hijab perform on stage . The progression of the country in such a short time period was mind boggling . Until now . Who would have guessed that the limited freedom of speech afforded to Egyptians under the old regime would develop into no freedom of speech at all ? That a country , which was the `` beacon of hope '' less than one year ago , is now a catalyst for a `` return to the dark ages . '' See also : Comedian stands up for Arabs ' right to laugh . I 'm not saying that we should n't be sensitive to religious and cultural needs -- though my personal vote as a comedian is everything should be open to criticism and satire . Many countries have restrictions on programming , including the U.S. , but to retroactively punish someone for previously approved material is beyond reason . Mr. Imam has the opportunity to appeal but , regardless of if he wins or not , a clear message has been sent : any challenge to the `` societal norm '' will not be tolerated . This does n't just prevent comedians , writers and artists from finding humor in the single biggest aspect of every Egyptian 's life but it also will suppress creativity in general . Can a Muslim character in a film not drink alcohol ? It happens everyday in real life but are we not allowed to show it because the courts want us to pretend it does n't exist ? More importantly , what happens to that actor playing the part -- even if he is really drinking apple juice instead of a beer ? Regardless of the outcome in the Adel Imam trial , if Egyptians do n't raise their voices against this ridiculous verdict , this may not just signal the demise of comedy in Egypt -- this could very well be the demise of the country itself . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ronnie Khalil .
Egyptian actor Adel Imam found guilty of defaming Islam in some of his movies . The films are several years old and were approved by former President Hosni Mubarak 's censors . Comment: