His incarceration was in violation of Egyptian law and was condemned by international rights groups, media freedom organisations and the United Nations.
[3] Hussein began his journalism career as a politics editor and then broadcaster for the Voice of the Arabs radio station in Cairo.
[4] Hussein requested to visit his critically ill father in hospital before the latter's death in November 2019 but was rejected by the prison warden.
[5] The Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN) consistently denied the charges placed against Hussein and called for his release.
[8] Mostefa Souag, the Acting Director General of AJMN, has called Hussein's case as "baseless accusations and trumped-up charges.
[4] On 3 February 2018, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) deemed the detention of Hussein as "arbitrary" and demanded his immediate release.
[9] Mostefa Souag, the acting director-general of the AJMN, called the release "a moment of truth and an inspiring milestone towards press freedom.