US 'concerned' over conviction of prominent Egyptian activist
Hossam Bahgat avoided jail time but was ordered to pay a fine for "insulting" the country's National Election Authority.
The Biden administration has voiced concern over Egypt’s conviction of a leading activist whose case human rights groups say is emblematic of the Egyptian government's campaign to silence dissent.
Hossam Bahgat, a lawyer who is the founder and executive director of the Cairo-based Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), was found guilty on Monday of insulting the country’s election authorities. A misdemeanor court fined him 10,000 Egyptian pounds (about $640) but imposed no jail time, according to his organization.
Bahgat had been charged with insulting a state institution, spreading false news with malicious intent and using social media to commit crimes. The charges were linked to a December 2020 tweet, in which he alleged corruption occurred during the country’s parliamentary elections.
“We are concerned by reports that prominent human rights defender and journalist Hossam Bahgat was convicted and fined for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression,” a State Department spokesperson told Al-Monitor.
