Egypt: New concerns about freedom of expression

Amnesty International is concerned by the arrest and detention of blogger and former al-Azhar University student Abdel Karim Sulaiman Amer apparently because of his critical writings about Islam and Egypt’s al-Azhar religious authorities, and the recent imprisonment of Tal’at Sadat, a member of parliament, for “spreading false rumours and insulting the armed forces”. These cases represent a further erosion of freedom of expression in Egypt.

Abdel Karim Sulaiman Amer was summoned to appear before the office of the Public Prosecutor in Maharram Bek district of the city of Alexandria on 7 November following a complaint reportedly made against him by al-Azhar University. He was charged with an array of offences, including “spreading information disruptive of public order”, “incitement to hate Muslims” and “defaming the President of the Republic”. The Public Prosecutor ordered his detention for four days on 7 November, which was later reportedly extended for a further 15 days, to allow further time for investigation.

Abdel Karim Sulaiman Amer was dismissed from al-Azhar University in March 2006 after the university’s disciplinary board found him guilty of blaspheming Islam. The disciplinary measures were taken against him after he was detained by the Egyptian authorities for 12 days in October 2005 because of his writings about Islam and the sectarian riots which took place in the same month in Alexandria’s Maharram Bek district following reports that a play believed to be anti-Islam was being screened in a Coptic church in the district.

Tal’at Sadat, nephew of the assassinated former Egyptian President Mohamed Anwar Sadat, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with labour and fined on 31 October after being convicted of defaming the armed forces. On 5 October, the Military Prosecutor General requested that Tal’at Sadat be stripped of his parliamentary immunity to be investigated for defaming the armed forces and for spreading false information. Several days earlier, Tal’at Sadat gave a series of media interviews on the anniversary of the former president’s assassination, and alleged that senior army officers had been implicated in the killing, which was carried out by Islamist soldiers on 6 October 1981. In these interviews he suggested that Egyptian President Husni Mubarak – then vice-president – was also involved. Although a civilian, he was tried and convicted by a military court.

Amnesty International has consistently urged the Egyptian authorities to put an end to the trial of civilians before military courts, from which there is no higher judicial appeal, which violates some of the most fundamental requirements of international law, such as the right to be tried before an independent and impartial court, and the right to appeal to a higher court.

Amnesty International considers Tal’at Sadat to be a prisoner of conscience imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and is calling for his immediate and unconditional release. The organization is awaiting further details of the charges against Abdel Karim Sulaiman Amer but is concerned that he may also be a prisoner of conscience who is being prosecuted on account of the peaceful expression of his views about Islam and the al-Azhar religous authorities.

Amnesty International is calling on the Egyptian authorities to review or abolish legislation that, in violation of international standards, stipulates prison sentences for acts which constitute nothing more than the exercise of the rights of freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Click here for the article.

The Students for Global Democracy Condemns the Detention of Egyptian Blogger “Kareem Amer” and Sponsors HAMSA petition for his release

The Students for Global Democracy strongly denounces the arrest of Egyptian blogger Abdel Karim Suliman Amer, known as “Kareem Amer,” for expressing secular opinions on his blog. Kareem, a former student at Al-Azhar University, was illegally arrested in October 2005 by security forces due to opinions he expressed online regarding the sectarian violence in Alexandria that year. After his arrest and release, Al-Azhar University dismissed Kareem and filed a communiqué with the Office of the Public Prosecutor against Kareem. Despite the arguments of Kareem and a human rights lawyer from the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information who was representing him, the prosecutor decided to detain Kareem again on November 6 for four days, on a renewable basis, pending an investigation.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, states:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

The Students for Global Democracy fully supports Kareem’s right to free speech, as we stand by all those brave enough to express their views, however controversial, in repressive societies.

We formally sponsor the petition drafted by the Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance (HAMSA) to release Kareem, and we ask all of our readers to express their solidarity with Kareem by signing this important document.

The following is the original Arabic article written by Kareem from his cell in Moharm Bek prosecution. We hope the English translation can be provided soon:

Human Rights Organizations Condemn the Ongoing Detention of Egyptian Blogger and the Violation of His Right to Freedom of Expression
Kareem Amer is detained for an additional 15 days

Cairo – 11 November 2006

The Public Prosecutor Office of Alexandria re-detained the Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer for additional 15 days on Wednesday 8 November. This is considered a violation of his right to hold opinions without interference, which is stipulated in the Egyptian constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Egypt is a state-party.

“The arbitrary accusations against Kareem Amer indicate the authorities’ inclination to detain Kareem simply for expressing views contradictory to theirs. The Public Prosecutor told Kareem that if he did not abandon his views, even though personal, he may be imprisoned,” the undersigned human rights organizations stated.

The case of Amer is eventually testing the extent of respect granted by the Egyptian government to the right to freedom of expression, the Egyptian Constitution, and other international covenants which that right.

Kareem Amer deserves encouragement and support for risking his freedom for the sake of upholding his right to believe in secularism. His insistence on his right to freedom of expression had previously resulted in his expulsion from Al-Azhar University. The right to freedom of thought and expression is a basic human right that should not be undermined. Article 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, states:

Article 18: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change religion or belief, the freedom to manifest religion or belief in worship, observance, practice, and teaching either alone or in community with others and in public or private.”

Article 19: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

The undersigned human rights organizations call upon the Egyptian government to immediately release Kareem Amer, protect him against more harassment, and guarantee his right to freedom of expression.

Signatory Organizations:

From Egypt:

1. The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
2. The Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement
3. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
4. Association for Human Rights Legal Aid
5. Habi Center for Environmental Rights
6. Al-Nadeem Center for Psychological Rehabilitation and Treatment of Victims of Violence
7. Hisham Mubark Law Center
8. Land Center for Human Rights
9. Shomuu Assocaition for Human Rights and People with Disabilities
10. Egyptian Center for Human Rights
11. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
12. The Civil Observatory of Human Rights
13. Al-Ganob Center for Human Rights

From Bahrain:

14. Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights

To read the Arabic origional Click HERE

Students for Global Democracy, a student activist group based in the US, has endorsed the campaign to free Kareem.

The Students for Global Democracy Condemns the Detention of Egyptian Blogger “Kareem Amer” and Sponsors HAMSA petition for his release

The Students for Global Democracy strongly denounces the arrest of Egyptian blogger Abdel Karim Suliman Amer, known as “Kareem Amer,” for expressing secular opinions on his blog. Kareem, a former student at Al-Azhar University, was illegally arrested in October 2005 by security forces due to opinions he expressed online regarding the sectarian violence in Alexandria that year. After his arrest and release, Al-Azhar University dismissed Kareem and filed a communiqué with the Office of the Public Prosecutor against Kareem. Despite the arguments of Kareem and a human rights lawyer from the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information who was representing him, the prosecutor decided to detain Kareem again on November 6 for four days, on a renewable basis, pending an investigation.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, states:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

The Students for Global Democracy fully supports Kareem’s right to free speech, as we stand by all those brave enough to express their views, however controversial, in repressive societies.

We formally sponsor the petition drafted by the Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance (HAMSA) to release Kareem, and we ask all of our readers to express their solidarity with Kareem by signing this important document.

We have been just notified that Elaph covered the story of Kareem’s detention. Read it:

اعتقال شاب مصري لانتقاده الازهر

وكانت مصر من بين الدول الجديدة المدرجة على القائمة الى جانب ميانمار وبيلاروسيا وايران وكوريا الشمالية. وقالت المنظمة ان “العديد من اصحاب المدونات تعرضوا للمضايقات والسجن هذا العام في مصر، ولذلك فقد تمت اضافتها الى قائمة العار التي تضم الدول التي تنتهك حرية التعبير على الانترنت بشكل منهجي”. واضافت ان “الرئيس المصري حسني مبارك، الذي يتولى السلطة منذ عام 1981، يظهر قدرا كبيرا من السلطوية المقلقة فيما يتعلق بالانترنت”.

To visit the website CLICK HERE

Reporters Without Borders has at last picked up Kareem’s case:

Blogger arrested for criticism of Islam

Reporters Without Borders condemned the arrest by Egyptian authorities of Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman, also known as Kareem Amer, for posting articles critical of Islam on his blog and called for his immediate release.

Since his arrest on 6 November, he has been held and questioned at a detention centre in Alexandria, 200 kilometres north of Cairo.

“This arrest took place on very day we announced that Egypt was being added to the list of 13 ‘Enemies of the Internet’” the worldwide press freedom organisation said. “It shows just how much the country deserves its place on this black list.”

“Hosni Mubarak, who has been in power since 1981, takes a very authoritarian stance in relation to the Internet. The arrest of Kareem Amer is a serious press freedom violation,” Reporters Without Borders added.

Last week, the 22-year old blogger condemned the government’s religious and authoritarian excesses. He was expelled this year from the Islamic University of al-Azhar for the same reasons. He criticised his professors, saying that their authority would be ended and the Egyptian government would finish “in the dustbin of history”. University administrators then laid a complaint against the cyber-dissident, who is accused of “spreading rumours endangering public security” and “defamation of President Mubarak”.

Police arrested Kareem Amer for the first time, on 26 October 2005, for posting anti-religious articles on his blog and held him for 13 days.

To visit the website CLICK HERE

We have just been informed by Laila that Al-Qabas newspaper covered the story of Kareem’s detention. The following is the English translation of the original Arabic article:

Accused of Thinking and Expression
By: Laila Al-Sarraf

November 10, 2006

Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman, the Egyptian blogger who is recently arrested by Egyptian authorities, is detained because he dared to think. On his blog, Abdel Kareem wrote with the purpose to liberate the human mind from superstitions and to open the way for logical thinking. This provoked the Egyptian authorities, represented by Moharam Bek Prosecutor Office in Alexandria, to arrest Abdel Kareem and charge him with the crime of expressing his views. He is still detained since Monday November 6.

When and where is the human right to live with dignity getting violated only because of expressing one’s views? When will we stop paying so much to gain our freedom? Kareem is one of the Arab youth who are suffering tyranny, repression, and arbitrary imprisonment for their call for freedom.

Thanks to Amira Al Hussaini for this informative article:

With most Arab countries waging a war on the Internet, Egypt decided to score brownie points with its bloggers by arresting yet another online writer.

Egyptian blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah, who has himself enjoyed a stint behind bars, reports to us his colleague’s ordeal.

أمرت نيابة محرم بك بالإسكندرية اليوم بحجز المدون عبد الكريم نبيل سليمان – 22 سنة و طالب سابق بالسنة الثانية بكلية الحقوق جامعة الأزهر – أربعة أيام على ذمة التحقيق بعد استجوابه فيما ينشره من مقالات رأي على شبكة الإنترنت في عدة مواقع أهمها مدونته http://karam903.blogspot.com

في مارس الماضي قامت كلية الحقوق في جامعة الأزهر التي كان عبد الكريم (الشهير بكريم) مقيدا بها كطالب بفصله بصفة نهائية من الكلية على خلفية كتاباته المشككة في صحة الدين الإسلامي و نقد بعض رموزه, و كانت جريدة الجمهورية قد نشرت وقتها ما يفيد بأن أوراق التحقيق مع كريم في مجلس التأديب – و التي رفض كريم التوقيع عليها لأسباب خاصة به – قد أرسلت نسخة منها إلى النيابة العامة. و بناءا عليه استدعته النيابة العامة في محرم بك بالإسكندرية لاستجوابه.

جدير بالذكر أن كريم كان قد تعرض للحبس من قبل في نفس التاريخ (6 نوفمبر) العام الماضي لنفس الأسباب, حيث اقتحمت قوة من جهاز أمن الدولة منزل كريم واقتادته لمكان مجهول، بسبب كتاباته على الإنترنت لبعض المواقع الإخبارية فضلا عن المدونة ” البلوج” الخاص به

و أثناء التحقيق مع كريم اليوم اعترف بمسئوليته الكاملة عما يكتب و أكد على تمسكه بحقه في حرية التعبير, لكن وكيل النيابة ركز على مناقشة كريم فيما يكتبه و بالتالي رد عليه كريم بتحليلات و استدلالات أذهلت المحقق, وفقا لما ذكرته المحامية التي رافقت كريم في أثناء التحقيق. كما اضطرت المحامية أيضا للتشاجر مع بعض الموظفين في النيابة بسبب استهزائهم بكريم و بحقوق الإنسان.

Alexandria’s Muharam Baik Public Prosecution today ordered the detention of blogger Abdulkarim Nabeel Sulaiman, a 22-year-old former Azhar University law student, for four days after questioning him on material he published on his blog. In March last year, Azhar University’s Law College suspended Abdulkarim (better known as Kareem) from the college for writing articles which throw suspision at Islam and criticize some of its symbols. Al Jomhoria newspaper at the time published details of the investigation papers, which Kareem refused to sign for personal reasons. A copy of the investigation was also sent to the Public Prosecutor. Based on this, he was called for questioning. It is worth mentioning that Kareem was previously arrested on November 6 last year for the same reasons. Public Security forces broke into his house and took him to an undisclosed location because of articles he published in his blog. During today’s interrogation, Kareem admitted his full responsibility for all that he had written and stressed his right to freedom of expression. But the Public Prosecutor discussed with Kareem specifics of his articles while the blogger rebutted by analysis and information which amazed the investigator, according his lawyer. The lawyer, on her part, had to quarrel with some of the employees there who ridiculed Kareem and human rights,” he wrote.

As is the case with any blogger’s arrest, Kareem’s detention too brought bloggers from Egypt and supporters from around the world to rally behind the cause, creating an online war zone against the authorities known as Free Kareem!

According to supporters, Kareem’s detention has been extended for another 15 days, with allegations against him summed up as follows:
- Spreading data and malicious rumors that disrupt public security
- Defaming the President of Egypt
- Incitement to overthrow the regime upon hatred and contempt
- Incitement to hate “Islam” and breach of the public peace standards
- Highlighting inappropriate aspects that harm the reputation of Egypt and spreading them to the public.

But not all bloggers are supportive of Kareem’s plight. Fellow Egyptian Blogger Ahmed Shokeir shows no sympathy for the arrested blogger.

العبث بالدين أيا كان مرفوض في كل بقاع الأرض وما يكتبه هذا الشخص لايدخل أبدا في نطاق حرية التعبير

“Playing games with religion, whatever religion it is, is refused all over the world and what this person writes does not fall within the parametres of freedom of expression,” he said.

Away from Egypt, which has kept us busy for three posts now and moving to other topics, plans are well underway in the Arab blogosphere to have a common platform for Arabic bloggers to express themselves – if only Arabs learn to agree instead of disagree the whole time.

Haitham Sabbah, a Jordanian Palestinian blogger writing from Bahrain, writes about the issue.

“What I find funny and sad at the same time nowadays is all that I am hearing about what is happening behind the scenes in the Arab blogosphere (especially blogs written in Arabic) about the establishment of unions, groups and federations for Arab blogs, and the demise of some of those gatherings and the failure of others as well as accusations of plagiarism and the the formation of unions which we don’t know anything about, etc,” wrote Sabbah.

Sabbah lists a number of projects to bring Arab bloggers together, including an initiative launched by Al Jazeera to form Bloggers Without Borders, and the ongoing war between different bloggers hurling accusations at each other and claiming to be the first to come up with the idea of a common portal for all Arabic bloggers.

“I am not against the setting up of such gatherings and unions. On the contrary, I have worked and will continue working on bringing Arab bloggers to work together in an effective manner and not just under slogans which mean nothing much to anyone. My projects are not like those which have very little thought put into them and which are run by people who know nothing about blogging and bloggers. The Arab blogosphere is rich with ideas and activities which are smart and interesting and which only lack financial and moral support to develop them further. I just hope that money used or being used for projects like Bloggers Without Borders, which is supported by Al Jazeera, will be spent on such projects. This reminds me of an idea called the Observatory, which Hijouij and other serious Arab bloggers wrote about. These are projects which deserve support and efforts to ensure their success and not others which are formed and launched while at the same time not qualified to speak on behalkf of Arab bloggers,” continued Sabbah.

Hijiouj gives us his two cents on the project, linking us to Joha, who has a full idea of the scheme.

Joha explains his masterplan as follows:

“The Arab Bloggers Observatory. This is the name of something which hasn’t seen light yet but it is what Joha.com suggests should take off as soon as possible. It is something I have written about a few months ago. Why an observatory? Because it will record all that happens to Arab bloggers beginning with harrassment by the security apparatus which usually begin with blocking sites and could escalate to arresting bloggers. This has happened in more than one Arab country and with more than one blogger. The second thing it would register is the end of blogging because of sickness or death,” explained Joha.

“This observatory is not a society or a federation or a group which links anyone to anything. It is just an agreement between an acceptable number of bloggers (about 10 for example) from Arab countries and those abroad, who will exchange bad news regarding Arab bloggers, whether through their network of Arab bloggers, or friends or relatives,” he said.

Hjiouij agrees with the idea, saying that an Observatory would be better than a union for Arab bloggers.

“Joha’s suggestion is to set up an observatory for Arab bloggers which aims to register all the problems which effect bloggers such as health problems and harrassment by the security forces. What makes this project stand out in my opinion is that it will end the issue of federations and unions which some bloggers are calling for and which are opposed by others because they are worried it would put them under scrutiny. This observatory will fulfil the objectives of those gatherings without imposing restrictions on bloggers. There will also be no system for membership. The observatory will be an open blog or Wiki which all bloggers can access and participate in by registering all the problems bloggers come across as well as planning campaigns for them. This observatory will be under the supervision of bloggers with a legal background as well as those involved in community projects. They will not have any authority though as their role will not exceed supervising local campaigns,” he wrote.
—
Sounds great! What do you think? Will Arab bloggers be united under one web address, which promised to plead their cause?

Thanks to Mohammed for these encouraging words:

Egyptian Blogger Kareem Arrested…Again!

I had met him in Cairo and before that I met his thoughts through his blog.

Abdul Kareem is an “Azhari” who was dismissed and punished for his rejection of the old ways and for his work to free his mind and the minds of others from the prison of obsolete traditions and doctrines.

Abdul Kareem does not represent a majority in the lands of sands but he stands as a hope; a hope for Egypt and a hope for me here in Iraq and for you out there who support reform and open mindedness. People like him work to turn our societies into civilized societies that appreciate liberty and respect the right of the other to be different.

Abdul Kareem was arrested again by the repressive authorities in his country but you can help set him free by adding your voice and signing this petition.

Check out Sandmonkey for more about Kareem’s case.

Tom Palmer also wrote about this and he provides the adrress and contact info of the Egyptian embassy in D.C, so you can go ahead and give them a call or write to them.

Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
3521 International Court, NW, Washington DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 895 5400
Fax: (202) 244-4319
E-mail: embassy@egyptembdc.org
URL: http://www.egyptembassy.us