Egypt seizes 'fake news' book by economist critical of Sisi
Egypt has released economic researcher Abdel Khalek Farouk but is investigating his new book, which says the country's economic crisis can be blamed at least in part on corruption and mismanagement of funds.
CAIRO — The Egyptian authorities have released economist Abdel Khalek Farouk and his publisher pending a probe into alleged "fake news" in Farouk's new book, "Is Egypt Really a Poor Country?”
Authorities had arrested Farouk on Oct. 21, a week after they seized copies of his book at Al-Ittihad Printing Press in Cairo and arrested its owner, Ibrahim al-Khatib. Khatib has also been released pending the investigation.
Officials said the book is critical of a speech Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi delivered on Jan. 28, 2017, at Egypt's World Youth Forum conference. Sisi said during the speech that Egypt is “a very poor country.”
Naglaa Salama, Farouk’s wife, told Al-Monitor by phone that Farouk indeed said in 2017 he was working on a book to respond to “Sisi’s allegations” regarding poverty in Egypt.
