An Egyptian court has sentenced renowned government critic Hisham Kassem to a six-month jail term and a fine. The charges originated from an online dispute with former minister Kamal Abu Eita. Kassem, noted for his fervent support of independent journalism in Egypt, is at the heart of allegations involving slander, defamation, and verbal assault against a law enforcement officer.
Kassem plays a crucial role in al-Tayyar al-Hurr (The Free Current), a group comprised mainly of liberal parties, positioning itself to endorse a candidate against President el-Sisi in the upcoming 2024 election. Following the judgment against Kassem, The Free Current declared on their social media that their political activity was temporarily on hold, stating Kassem was a prominent candidate for the presidency.
In August, subsequent to his arrest, Kassem embarked on a hunger strike to express his protest against his detention. The Egyptian court, where Hossam Bahgat, head of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, stood as part of his legal representation, imposed a fine of 20,000 Egyptian pounds (roughly $647) along with the prison term. Initially, the prosecutors demanded Kassem’s release on the condition of a bail payment of 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($161). Kassem refused the payment and was transported to a Cairo police station where an alleged verbal altercation occurred. Kassem’s legal representatives, headed by Naseer Amin, have appealed the verdict, with the hearing scheduled for October 7.
This case underscores the growing severity of crackdowns on individuals voicing dissent on social media, particularly as election season nears. On a related note, Amnesty International issued a plea to Egyptian authorities, urgently demanding the “immediate release” of Kassem and condemning his “arbitrary detention.”