25 October 2018
The 8-hour interrogation of economist Abdel Khalek Farouk was mainly about the sources of his latest book “Is Egypt Really a Poor County”, Said Ahmed Othman, Lawyer at the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE).
State Security investigations provided that Farouk is doing research that opposes the state’s vision and instigates public unrest. He was asked about specific information he provided in his book like the net wealth of the toppled president Mohamed Hosni Mubarak and the salary of the Minister of Interior, Othman said.
The economist stated that all the data in his book was originally published by credible international organizations and state-owned entities such as the Central Auditing Organization and the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
Replying to spreading misleading news charges, the economist insisted that his book does not include “false news” but a research about Egypt’s economic resources and how to develop the country’s wealth, Othman added.
Yesterday, South Cairo Prosecutor ordered the detention Farouk and publishing house owner Ibrahim El-Khatib for 15 days pending case 343/2018. Farouk was arrested on October 21, while El-Khatib was held on October 19, as the book was published by his print house.
24 October 2018
South Cairo Prosecutor ordered the detention of critical economist Abdel Khalek Farouk and publishing house owner Ibrahim El-Khatib for 15 days pending case 343/2018.
Farouk (61) was detained on Sunday, few days after the confiscation of his latest book entitled, “Is Egypt Really a Poor Country?”, while El-Khatib was detained on Friday as the book was published by his print house. But they were only interrogated on Monday October 22.
The economist is accused of possessing publications that have misleading information, and intentionally publishing false news; however, El-Khatib faced only the latter charge, Said Ahmed Othman, Lawyer at the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE).
Quoting President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi saying “Yes we are a poor country … very poor even” in a speech early 2017, Farouk’s book argues that Egypt is poor because of corruption and mismanagement of its rich resources, BBC wrote. This argument directly opposes the state’s discourse that Egypt is facing hard economic conditions because it is a poor country.
The writer’s family expressed its concerns about his medical condition in detention as he must continue a medical course which he had started before his arrest because he was attacked by a stray dog.
Farouk is a prominent Egyptian economist who published 20 books and articles in that field. He had worked as a researcher for well-known Egyptian institutes such as Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies. Additionally, he was chosen as part of the economists team of the state owned Central Agency For Organization and Administration.
23 October 2018
South Cairo Prosecutor ordered the detention of critical economist Abdel Khalek Farouk and publishing house owner Ibrahim El-Khatib for four days pending case 343/2018.
