An Egyptian court has sentenced political activist Hisham Kassem to six months in prison over charges arising from online altercation with a former minister and opposition figure.
Saturday’s verdict is subject to an appeal before a higher court.
Kassem, who for decades ran a series of print news outlets that helped keep alive pockets of independent, free press in the country, was arrested in August after persecutors questioned him on accusations levelled against him by Kamal Abu Eita, a former labour minister.
The case drew condemnation from rights groups and renewed global attention to Egypt’s poor human rights record.
Hisham Kassem, who is a leading official with the Free Current, a coalition of mostly liberal parties, was convicted of slander, defamation and verbally assaulting a police officer, according to Hossam Bahgat, head of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, which represents Kassem before the court.
Bahgat said the court in Cairo also fined Kassem 20,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $647).
Initially, persecutors ordered Kassem’s release on the condition that he pay bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($161).
Kassem refused to pay and was taken to a police station in Cairo, where he allegedly verbally assaulted police officers.
London-based Amnesty International on Thursday called on Egypt’s authorities to “immediately release” Kassem, saying he had been “arbitrarily detained”.
“The prosecution of Hisham Kassem for simply posting critical messages online is a signal that the Egyptian authorities’ relentless campaign to silence peaceful critics and punish dissent… is continuing in full force,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s research and advocacy director in the region.
