Journalists Syndicate files charges against Mortada Mansour for slander

Members of the Journalists Syndicate and the Egyptian Sports Critics Association conducted a march to the office of the general prosecutor on Saturday, where they filed charges against the outspoken Chairman of the Zamalek Club, Mortada Mansour, for slandering various media personalities.

According to the Aswat Masriya News Portal, a group of Mansour’s supporters were mobilized by his son Ahmed to confront the march, but police forces intervened and prevented any clashes from occurring.

Nonetheless, dozens of journalists and sports reporters marched to the nearby office of the general prosecutor, where they filed six charges against Mansour, accusing him of defamation and using “obscene language” against Egyptian media figures and sports reporters.

The Journalists Syndicate also announced that it would boycott any press conference organized by Mansour, and would not publish his name or photos in any publications.

The 62 year-old Mansour has courted controversy for years, and is renowned for his law suits against multiple groups and public figures.

In 2007, he served a prison sentence after being found guilty of verbally insulting a judge.

In 2011, he was accused of involvement in organizing the deadly attack on Tahrir, known as the “Battle of the Camel,” which he was later acquitted for.

In May 2014, he sought to run for president while proposing many restrictive policies. He later withdrew in support of Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

In August 2014, security forces arrested seven suspects in connection with an attempted assassination of Mansour, which wounded three of his bodyguards.