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A COURT in Egypt on Saturday upheld a six-month prison sentence for a fierce government critic who was convicted of defamation last month.
Hisham Kassem, who is a leading official with the Free Current, a coalition of mostly liberal parties, was convicted of insulting and defaming Kamal Abu Eita, a former labour minister and opposition figure.
He was also convicted of verbally assaulting a police officer.
Mr Kassem was sentenced last month to six months in prison and fined 20,000 Egyptian pounds (£533), according to Hossam Bahgat, head of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, which represents Mr Kassem before the court.
He appealed against the sentence at the court of appeals which confirmed the verdict on Saturday, Mr Bahgat said.
Mr Kassem, who for decades ran a series of news outlets that helped keep alive pockets of independent free press in Egypt, was arrested in August after prosecutors questioned him about accusations levelled by Abu Eita.
Initially, prosecutors ordered Mr Kassem’s release on the condition that he pays bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds (around £133). But Mr Kassem refused to pay.
The case drew condemnation from rights groups and renewed global attention toward Egypt’s poor human rights record. Amnesty International said that the charges against Mr Kassem were politically motivated.
