The defense memorandum submitted in case No. 23069

The Court of Cassation ruled by approving the judgment of the Court of first instance, to dismiss the case No. 1650, appeal No. 23069, submitted by Sheikh Yusuf al-Badri to claim a compensation of one million pounds from Al-Masry Al-Youm and other newspapers.

The facts of the case goes back to when Sheikh Yusuf al-Badri, filed a lawsuit to claim a one million pounds compensation from Al-Masry Al-Youm and other newspapers, after Al-Masry Al-Youm published an article entitled "Gamal Al- Ghitani: We face a new form of terrorizing intellectuals, al-Badri and his likes distort the reputation of the Muslims." In its session of 04/24/2008, the Court of First Instance ruled by "dismissing the case and committed the plaintiff to paying the expenses." However, the plaintiff didn't accept the ruling and challenged it before the Court of Cassation, which set a hearing on 27/1/2009, where it ruled by approving the decision of the Court of First Instance.

The United Group represented Al-Masry Al-Youm and Mr. Abdul Hamid Salim took over the defense of Al-Masry Al-Youm. The defense was build upon Article 47 of the Constitution, which stipulates that "freedom of opinion is guaranteed and every person has the right to express his opinion in any form whether verbally, written, in photographs or by other means of expression within the boundaries of law, and self-criticism and constructive criticism ensure the safety of national construction."

Click here to download the Arabic version of the defense memorandum