Prosecutor General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud referred Essam El-Erian, vice president of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, to the misdemeanor court on charges of insulting TV anchor Gehan Mansour.
Mansour accused El-Erian of insulting and accusing her of receiving foreign funds to attack the Muslim Brotherhood.
El-Erian accused Mansour of preventing him from presenting his ideas during an interview on Dream TV. He concluded the interview by telling Mansour, “I won’t ask you how much you earn to attack us.”
Malek Adly, lawyer and human rights activist, rejected this, saying investigations into public figures were usually conducted quickly, due to the pressure of public opinion.
“In addition, there is actual physical evidence. Such evidence makes it easy to investigate the situation,” said Adly.
Adly believes El-Erian will be punished. He said the maximum punishment for insult and defamation crime is a three-year prison sentence, in addition to a fine.
