The case was filed by Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Maqsoud, the Brotherhood’s lawyer, on behalf of Badie. The case is against Anis both in his capacity as minister of information and head of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union.
It also accuses the head of the news sector at ERTU; state-owned newspaper Rose Al-Yusuf chairman Mohamed Gamal El-Din; the paper’s editor-inchief Ibrahim Khalil; and Ahmed Ataa, a reporter at the paper.
Rose Al-Yusuf published a story with the headline “The Guide to Haniyeh: I wish you were the Prime Minister of Egypt” which reported
that Badie had met with Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas Prime Minister of the government in Gaza, and told him all Hamas leaders would be granted Egyptian passports and that the Brotherhood would provide Hamas with a billion dollars for buying and smuggling weapons from Libya.
“The accused have committed several acts punishable by law, summing up to a crime that goes beyond the right to freedom of expression and professional journalism that aims to spread the truth,” Abdel-Maqsoud’s case read. “These stories violate the principles of free journalism that aims to build society. They are also libel and defamation of the Muslim Brotherhood and its General Guide,” it added.
When asked why he was also suing the news sector head and Anis, a former military general, Abdel-Maqsoud told The Daily News Egypt that state television’s “Good Morning Egypt” programme had aired the story as news too.
Abdel-Maqsoud added that he would be seeking a penalty of jail time and a fine for all those involved.
The Daily News Egypt reached the information minister but he refused to comment on the matter.
