Egypt's Prime Minister Sharif Ismail yesterday sacked the justice minister after he said in a television interview that he would arrest even "a prophet", a statement from the premier's office said.

Ahmed al-Zind sparked outrage on social media after his remarks on Friday that he would imprison anyone "even if it's a prophet". Upon realising what he had said, Zind immediately stopped and said: "I ask for forgiveness from God." He later clarified in a separate interview that his remark was a mere "slip of the tongue".

On Sunday, Ismail's office said Zind had been removed.