HEARINGS BEGIN IN NEW CASES AGAINST EGYPTIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003283

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SINGH AND WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM EG
SUBJECT: HEARINGS BEGIN IN NEW CASES AGAINST EGYPTIAN
DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST

REF: CAIRO 3166

Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
William R. Stewart, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) As reported reftel, Saad Eddin Ibrahim (SEI),the
prominent Egyptian-American democracy activist, is facing
four separate lawsuits for "spreading false news," espionage,
and attempting to harm Egypt's economy by calling for cuts in
U.S. assistance to Egypt. On November 18, the first hearing
in one of the new cases was held at the Al Khalifa
Misdemeanors Court. According to SEI's wife, Barbara
Ibrahim, the court ruled to postpone proceedings to December

5. It is currently unclear whether the hearings in the other
cases pending against SEI will be heard at a unified court
session on December 13, or whether the hearings in the
different cases will be held separately on November 22,
December 1, and December 8.


2. (C) Barbara Ibrahim told us that the family's approach to
the hearings is pointedly "low key," so as "to not legitimize
this." Flagging that "these are simply preliminary hearings,
not the full-fledged trials," Ibrahim noted that she has
asked representatives from various human rights organizations
to attend, but that "for now" she would prefer there not be a
U.S. diplomat in attendance. Ibrahim opined that the
presence of a U.S. diplomat would likely draw unhelpful
attention, "giving people fodder to assert that the charges
against Saad are being proven." If SEI or her views on this
change, Ibrahim will let us know. In keeping with Ibrahim's
wishes, we do not plan on attending any of the scheduled
hearings.
RICCIARDONE