Political Activist Imprisoned in Egypt

Hisham Qassem, the publisher and political activist, was transferred to prison today, Wednesday, by Egyptian authorities pending trial on charges of defamation and insulting police officers. Jamila Ismail, a colleague from the Free Current, stated that the current intends to present or support a candidate for elections, and that the government has been pressuring members since its formation. Nasser Amin, Qassem's lawyer, told Reuters that the rapid referral of his case to trial before addressing the request for bail was exceptionally harsh for the crime. His trial is scheduled for September 2. Amin noted that Qassem's lawyers had submitted different bail requests, but were surprised by a second case filed against him, accusing him of verbally insulting public officials during his detention, which they claimed was fabricated, as well as the referral of both cases to court. According to a security source from the Ministry of Interior, "Publisher Hisham Qassem committed the crimes of defamation, assault on a member of the pardon committee, and public employees while performing their duties. Legal measures were taken against him like any case, and he was presented to the relevant prosecution for investigation in the presence of his lawyer, and all measures taken against him are legal." In recent months, Qassem has criticized President Sisi and his government, which has been mired in an economic crisis for a year and a half.