Many rights groups criticized the arrest and trial of Kassem, including Amnesty International, which said the charges were politically motivated.

Source: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/world-news/2023/09/egyptian-court-gives-a-government-critic-a-6-month-sentence-in-a-case-condemned-by-rights-groups/

Opposition politician Hisham Kassem had also been “a potential presidential candidate”, his Free Current political coalition said last week.

Source: https://yalibnan.com/2023/09/30/egypt-to-hold-presidential-vote-on-december-10-12-amidst-a-severe-economic-crisis/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=egypt-to-hold-presidential-vote-on-december-10-12-amidst-a-severe-economic-crisis

Politician Gameela Ismail (center) speaks during a press conference of executives of the Free Current Movement in Cairo, as they respond to the detention of Hisham Kassem on August 28, 2023.

Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-jails-leading-opposition-figure-barring-him-from-upcoming-poll/

The detention came a day after Kassem posted a tweet commenting on the arrest of a journalist in relation to the Egyptian private plane carrying millions in cash, fake gold and weapons seized in Zambia earlier this month.

Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-opposition-activist-hisham-kassem-begins-hunger-strike