Activist Ahmed Douma detained for allegedly insulting President Morsi
An Egyptian protester waves the national flag in Cairo’s landmark Tahrir Square on June 5, 2012.
Egyptian activist Ahmed Douma became on Tuesday the latest critic of President Morsi to face charges for allegedly insulting the Islamist leader.
In the Nile Delta city of Tanta a court ruled for the four-day detention of Douma in Damanhour’s general prison, as investigators look into charges of "deliberately spreading false news and rumors" on television.
According to Douma's Twitter account, officials accuse him of calling Morsi a "criminal and murderer and a fugitive from justice."
In March, satirist Bassem Youssef, known by some as Egypt's Jon Stewart, was questioned by the state for allegedly insulting Morsi and Islam.
"They feel that those activists who criticize the president are, according to their words, harming the president, so they try to silence them," said Hafez Abu Seada, head of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights.
In March, Douma was said he was beaten by “Muslim Brotherhood militias” during clashes in Cairo’s Mokattam district, according to Ahram Online.
Before that, Douma had spent three months and 10 days in Tora prison for allegedly setting fire to Cairo's Institut d'Egypte on Dec. 17, 2012. Douma later gave an interview and talked about his time in prison.
"No one was allowed to deal with me. During the 100-day period, I spoke to no one and wasn’t able to write," he said.
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