CAIRO — An Egyptian courtroom sentenced a fierce authorities critic Saturday to 6 months in jail over expenses that stemmed from an internet spat with a former minister and opposition determine. The case drew condemnation from rights teams and renewed international consideration to Egypt‘s poor human rights file.

Hisham Kassem, who's a number one official with the Free Current, a coalition of largely liberal events, was convicted of slander, defamation and verbally assaulting a police officer, in response to Hossam Bahgat, head of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, which represents Kassem earlier than the courtroom.

Bahgat stated the courtroom in Cairo additionally fined Kassem 20,000 Egyptian kilos (round $647). Saturday’s verdict is topic to an attraction earlier than the next courtroom.

Kassem, who for many years ran a collection of stories shops that helped maintain alive pockets of impartial, free press within the nation, was arrested in August after persecutors questioned him on accusations leveled towards him by Kamal Abu Eita, a former labor minister.

Initially, persecutors ordered Kassem’s launch on the situation that he pay a bail of 5,000 Egyptian kilos ($161). But Kassem refused to pay and was taken to a police station in Cairo, the place he allegedly verbally assaulted law enforcement officials.

Kassem and his legal professionals rejected the accusations.

Many rights teams criticized the arrest and trial of Kassem, together with Amnesty International, which stated the costs had been politically motivated.

Egypt, a detailed U.S. ally, has waged a widescale crackdown on dissent over the previous decade, jailing hundreds of individuals. Most of these imprisoned are supporters of Islamist former President Mohammed Morsi, however the crackdown has additionally swept up outstanding secular activists.

Egypt’s human rights file got here beneath rising worldwide scrutiny forward of the presidential election set for February. The authorities has been making an attempt to whitewash its picture, however Kassem’s and different activists’ arrests proved to be a blow to the 18-month effort.

In latest months, Egypt has allowed some criticism of its insurance policies amid a frightening financial disaster and rising requires political reform forward of the 2024 presidential elections. The authorities launched a discussion board for dialogue with opposition events and rights activists to reinforce its human rights file and supply suggestions to the federal government on the best way to tackle its a number of crises.

The authorities additionally pardoned many high-profile detainees over the previous months. Chief amongst them is Patrick Zaki, a number one human rights defender, and Ahmed Douma, one of many Egyptian activists behind the 2011 anti-government rebellion that was a part of the Arab Spring.

Still, the Biden administration stated Thursday that Egypt’s poor human rights file hasn’t improved, however Washington received’t withhold as a lot navy help because it did in 2022.

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