CAIRO – With Egyptian student Abdel Kareem Soliman about to go on trial for alleged crimes committed on his weblog, an international coalition of bloggers, activists, and political leaders is demanding respect for free expression in Egypt.
The Middle East Interfaith Blogger Network (www.mefaith.com), an alliance of diverse bloggers, is calling upon Egyptian authorities to drop charges against Soliman, who currently faces up to nine years in jail. His trial begins on Thursday.
“Kareem spoke his mind on his blog and did not hide his identity,” said Bahraini blogger Esra’a Al-Shafei, co-founder of the Interfaith Network. “Even though he was critical of Islam, I and the coalition’s other Muslim members respect his right to free speech. Jailing him for expressing his ‘secular’ views is a sign of fear, not the action of an open society.”
Based solely on his blogposts, Soliman is charged with the alleged crimes of “defaming Egypt’s President,” “incitement to hate Islam,” and “highlighting inappropriate aspects that harm the reputation of Egypt.”
But members of the Interfaith Blogger Network argue that the decision to detain Soliman for the past 10 weeks without trial has severely harmed Egypt’s international reputation.
“Many international newspapers have all covered Kareem’s case,” noted network member Dalia Ziada in Cairo. “Millions of people are now aware that Egyptian authorities target bloggers simply for speaking their minds.” Over 2,000 people from around the world have signed the network’s petition demanding Kareem’s release.
In a dramatic development, members of Congress have today taken up Soliman’s case. Congressmen Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Barney Frank (D-MA) sent a letter to Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Fahmy demanding Soliman’s release and calling upon Egypt to respect freedom of expression or freedom of conscience.
Their letter states that the decision to arrest Soliman “simply for displeasure over writings on his personal weblog raises serious concern about the level of respect for these
freedoms in Egypt.”
Egyptian bloggers plan to pack the courthouse in Alexandria, Egypt, on Thursday, and millions of supporters around the world will be following the case via blogposts.
“We hope he will be acquitted,” remarked Al-Shafei, “But we are ready to act if he is convicted.”
