Egypt’s Military Prosecution ordered the detention of Hossam Bahgat, an Egyptian investigative journalist and human rights activist, for four days pending an investigation into charges of “spreading false rumors aiming to upset public peace and security” on Monday. Bahgat’s lawyer, Karim Abdelrady, who works with the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, said on Sunday night that Bahgat would be held in overnight detention, pending a decision on Monday morning on whether to formally charge him. Independently owned electronic publication Mada Masr, for which Bahgat is a frequent contributor, reported that the lawyer-turned-journalist was summoned to the Military Intelligence headquarters in Nasr City, where he appeared for questioning at 9 am on Sunday. After several hours of interrogation, he was moved to Military Prosecution. He was reportedly not allowed to enter the headquarters with a telephone or a lawyer. After several hours of questioning, he was allowed a short telephone call to inform his colleagues of the charges being brought against him. Several lawyers, including Negad al-Borie, Hassan al-Azhari, Khaled Ali, Adel Ramadan and Hoda Nasrallah are currently attending Bahgat’s interrogation, Mada reported. Bahgat is most widely known for founding and directing…
Egyptian Activist and Journalist Hossam Bahgat Faces Military Prosecution, Held in Detention Overnight
November 8, 2015
