16 September 2023
The Economic Court of Appeal set October 7 as a date to examine the appeal filed by the defense panel of journalist and political opponent Hesham Kassem against the verdict issued against him by the Economic Court to 3 months in prison over insulting, slandering, and intentionally disturbing Kamal Abu Eita, and three months in prison with enforced hard labor over insulting a public servant, in connection with lawsuit No. 2121 of 2023.
This verdict came as a result of two reports filed against Kassem. The first was filed by the former Minister of Manpower, Kamal Abu Eita, accusing Kassem of insulting and defaming him in posts on his Facebook account, and the second was filed by the police officer and police chiefs at El-Sayeda Zainab police station accusing Kassem of insulting and defaming them while he is interrogating him pending the first report.
Kassem faces accusations of insulting, slandering, and intentionally harassing the former Minister of Manpower, Kamal Abu Eita, and insulting, slandering, and intentionally harassing a public servant (the police officer and police chiefs at El-Sayeda Zainab police station).
The Economic Court ruled to imprison Hisham Kassem for 6 months and fine him 20,000 pounds for the charge of insulting and slandering Kamal Abu Eita and insulting a public servant and acquitted him for the charge of disturbing a public servant
16 September 2023
Today, the Economic Court ruled that Hisham Kassem be imprisoned for 3 months, fined twenty thousand pounds, and temporary civil compensation of ten thousand pounds for the charge of insulting, slandering, and intentionally disturbing Kamal Abu Eita, and three months with work and enforceable imprisonment for the charge of insulting a public servant, and acquitted on the charge of disturbing a public servant, in connection with lawsuit No. 2121 of 2023.
The Prosecution summoned Kassem to investigate him based on a report submitted by the former Minister of Manpower and member of the Presidential Pardon Committee, Kamal Abu Eita, against Qasim, accusing him of insulting and defaming him on social media. The prosecution faced Kassem with accusations of insulting, defaming, and intentionally harassing Kamal Abu Eita and insulting, defaming, and intentionally harassing a public servant.
El-Sayeda Zainab’s prosecution interrogated Kassem regarding the report filed against him. The Prosecution decided to release him on a 5 thousand pound bail, which Kassem refused to pay, stressing that he had not committed any violation that required paying bail. Meanwhile, Kassem published a post on Facebook criticizing President Sisi and various state agencies and announcing his refusal to pay the bail. Later, members of El-Sayeda Zainab’s police station filed a report against Kassem, accusing him of insulting, slandering, and offending a public servant after they claimed that Kassem insulted a police officer and two police chiefs.
The prosecution charged Kassem with insulting, slandering, and intentionally harassing the former Minister of Manpower, Kamal Abu Eita, and insulting, slandering, and intentionally harassing a public servant (the police officer and police chiefs at El-Sayeda Zainab police station).
Economic Court to adjudicate Hisham Kassem’s lawsuit against charges of insult and slander on September 16
9 September 2023
The Economic Court decided to set lawsuit No. 2121 of 2023 for adjudication on September 16, the lawsuit in which journalist and political activist is accused. The court also decided to keep Kassem in custody until the next hearing and dismissed the requests of Kassem’s defense to cross-examine the rebuttal witnesses and release him until the next hearing.
El-Sayeda Zainab’s prosecution interrogated Kassem regarding the report filed against him. The Prosecution decided to release him on a 5 thousand pound bail, which Kassem refused to pay, stressing that he had not committed any violation that required paying bail. Meanwhile, Kassem published a post on Facebook criticizing President Sisi and various state agencies and announcing his refusal to pay the bail. Later, members of El-Sayeda Zainab’s police station filed a report against Kassem, accusing him of insulting, slandering, and offending a public servant after they claimed that Kassem insulted a police officer and two police chiefs.
The prosecution charged Kassem with insulting, slandering, and intentionally harassing the former Minister of Manpower, Kamal Abu Eita, and insulting, slandering, and intentionally harassing a public servant (the police officer and police chiefs at El-Sayeda Zainab police station).
Economic Court adjourns Hisham Kassem’s trial against charges of insult and slander to September 9, while his detention continues
2 September 2023
On Saturday, the Economic Court decided to postpone the trial session of the political activist Hisham Kassem in connection with lawsuit No. 2121 of 2023 to September 9. The Court also decided to keep Kassem in custody until the next hearing, ignoring his defense team’s request to release him due to the absence of any justifications to keep him detained.
The Prosecution summoned Kassem to investigate him based on a report submitted by the former Minister of Manpower and member of the Presidential Pardon Committee, Kamal Abu Eita, against Qasim, accusing him of insulting and defaming him on social media. The prosecution faced Kassem with accusations of insulting, defaming, and intentionally harassing Kamal Abu Eita and insulting, defaming, and intentionally harassing a public servant.
Hisham Kassem is a journalist, publisher, and political activist. He’s one of the founders of Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper and its first editor-in-chief, and one of the founders of the free current movement, a political bloc that includes liberal political opponents, calling for liberalizing the economy and ending the military establishment’s dominance over the country’s economy.
