Egyptian theatre critic Hatem Hafez has resigned on Sunday from the theatre committee of the Supreme Council for Culture to protest what he describes as "a policy of confusion implemented by the organisations of the ministry of culture."

The theatre critic handed in his resignation to Secretary General Saeed Tawfik, which reads: "I am announcing my resignation from the committee, which I proudly served for three months, in protest against management's severe changes in decisions made throughout the entire ministry of culture. With all respect and great appreciation of my teacher, Minister of Culture Shaker Abdel Hamid, I believe that this unstable management intends to restore the Mubarak regime."

Hatem Hafez also objected to the drafting of the new regulation that allows a director of the armed forces to hold a permanent seat on the board of moral affairs – and which was recently passed by the minister of culture. This law will militarise Egypt's culture scene, claims Hafez, or at least allow the infiltration of the military establishment in the policy-making process.