Opposition figure & publisher Hisham Kassem imprisoned pending prompt trial on defamation allegations

After a public spat with a former minister that played out in the media, publisher, journalist and leading figure in the liberal Free Current opposition group Hisham Kassem is currently detained in the 10th of Ramadan Prison pending a prompt trial on defamation charges.

The dispute between Kassem, who was formerly the publisher of the leading daily Al-Masry Al-Youm, Kamal Abu Eita, labor minister in the 2013 transitional Cabinet, dates back to July and has escalated over the past week, with Kassem promptly summoned, interrogated, moved to prison facilities and referred to trial all within the space of a few days.

Eita stated in a press interview in July that he "smelled a foreign agenda in the Free Current because of Hisham Kassem's involvement."

The Free Current is a new coalition of economically liberal opposition parties and figures, including Dostour Party head Gameela Ismail, Conservative Party head Akmal Qortam and Reform and Development Party head Mohamed Anwar al-Sadat.

Kassem later responded to Abu Eita, referring to charges of embezzlement once leveled at the former minister and labor leader.

After Eita filed charges of libel and defamation against him, Kassem was summoned for an interrogation on Sunday. He was interrogated for six hours, after which the court ordered his release on bail. But Kassem refused to post the LE5,000 bail on principle, announcing the decision via a post on his personal social media pages in which he added that he is “more honorable than Sisi, his men, and his agencies.” Commenting on Kassem's decision, defense lawyer Nasser Amin, who is acting on Kassem's behalf, stated that Kassem refused to pay bail on the basis that he was summoned for questioning as a witness, yet found himself responding to questions as a defendant.

Kassem was then transferred to the Sayeda Zainab police station, awaiting a judge's review of the bail decision. But in the interim, officers at the station filed a report with the Public Prosecution accusing Kassem of verbally assaulting them during his hours in detention at the facility. The Public Prosecution issued a four-day remand detention order pending investigation into the new charges from the Sayeda Zeinab officers, along with the defamation charges.

On Monday, a court upheld the remand detention order, ordering Kassem to remain in detention for four days pending investigation into the charges, according to a statement issued by the Free Current.

Kassem, who is also a co-founder of Al-Masry Al-Youm, was moved to the 10th of Ramadan Prison on Monday.

The South Cairo Prosecution also referred him to a prompt trial on September 2 at an economic circuit of the misdemeanors court, according to attorney Hoda Abdel Wahab, who said that Kassem will remain in detention in the meantime. Condemning the use of judicial action to resolve "a political disagreement," the Free Current Party issued a statement on Tuesday calling for Kassem's immediate release.

Kassem’s verbal tussle with Eita has reverberated across opposition groupings on the political scene.

Expressing support for Abu Eita, who also holds a position on the official committee tasked with recommending prisoners eligible for amnesty to the president, was the Karama Party, which is a member of the Civil Democratic Movement, a broad alliance of 12 opposition parties.

The Free Current grouping of opposition parties and figures, however, leveled criticism at the Karama Party for supporting Eita, questioning its commitment to “joint action for political and economic reform.”

Editors note: This article was edited after publication for accuracy and clarity.