President al-Sisi told CNN "I do not want to exaggerate, but we have unprecedented freedom of expression in Egypt. No one in Egypt can bar anyone working in media or journalism or on TV from expressing their views."

"I am afraid that if President Bashar Al-Assad and the Syrian Arab army fall, the radical groups will be given a huge push," said El-Sisi when asked about Al-Assad.

Egypt was making a lot of efforts to combat terrorism, not only with security solutions, but also with the reform of religious discourse, the president told CNN.