Free Kareem! - Kareem’s Family Disowns Him; Father Wants Him Killed If He Does Not “Repent”

Reported by Al-Masree Al-Yawm (The Egyptian Today), with thanks to Dalia.

The article is in Arabic. Here’s my translation, in full:

Family of Al-Azhar Student, Accused of “Contempt of Religion”, Disowns Him Before His Court Verdict Session

Written by Nabeel Abu Shal and Tamer Al-Sharqawy
18/2/2007

The family of Al-Azhar student Abdul Kareem Nabeel Suleiman, accused of “contempt of religion”, has disowned him before his court verdict session on the upcoming Thursday. His father, a retired mathematics teacher, has demanded applying the Sharia [Islamic law] ruling on him by giving him three days to repent, followed by having him killed if he does not announce his repentance.

The father of the Al-Azhar student, who is accused of contempt of the Islamic religion, harming the reputation of Egypt, and inciting to disrupt the peace and to overthrow the regime, has decided to rescind from boycotting his trial hearing sessions. [He has decided] to attend the court verdict session with his four brothers, who completely memorized the Holy Quran, to announce disowning the accused Abdul Kareem inside the court room, in order to reduce the embarrassment and pressure that civil rights organizations are applying on the court panel.

The father of the accused also described the organizations that are working on having his son acquitted as “monkey rights” organizations, in his own words. He also described his son as the “monkey” who has imitated the atheists of the West in their intellectual thinking.

The family also said that they will announce their disownment of their son on the Internet as well.

The Dean of Sharia in Al-Azhar University, which the student Abdul Kareem attends, had him attend a disciplinary hearing after he attacked the Islamic religion on the Internet, and spoke against the Messenger of Allah – peace and blessings be upon him – and the companions [of the prophet of Islam].

COMMENTS

Posted In: Egyptian blogosphere, Kareem, Press, Translation

http://johnnorrisbrown.com/blog/?p=2284 Appalachian Scribe » Egyptian Dissident Blogger Disowned

[...] Abdul Kareem Nabeel Suleiman, the Egyptian blogger who was arrested after criticizing the Egyptian government on his blog, has been disowned by his father: The family of Al-Azhar student Abdul Kareem Nabeel Suleiman, accused of “contempt of religion”, has disowned him before his court verdict session on the upcoming Thursday. His father, a retired mathematics teacher, has demanded applying the Sharia [Islamic law] ruling on him by giving him three days to repent, followed by having him killed if he does not announce his repentance. [...]
http://infidelphialive.blogspot.com Jauhara al Kafirah

I suppose I should be able to understand the fear that his parents are going through…still, Kareem is a hero. We need more Kareems in this world.
http://tree-in-the-sea.blogspot.com/ dina little

God bless this brave and good young man.
he will be in my prayers.
dina
http://www.oinsurgente.org/2007/02/20/liberdade-para-kareem-2/ O Insurgente » Blog Archive » Liberdade para Kareem (2)

[...] Kareem’s Family Disowns Him; Father Wants Him Killed If He Does Not “Repent” (via Tom Palmer) [...]
http://dmiessler.com/archives/1156 dmiessler.com | grep understanding knowledge

[...] From FreeKareem.org: The family of Al-Azhar student Abdul Kareem Nabeel Suleiman, accused of “contempt of religion”, has disowned him before his court verdict session on the upcoming Thursday. His father, a retired mathematics teacher, has demanded applying the Sharia [Islamic law] ruling on him by giving him three days to repent, followed by having him killed if he does not announce his repentance. [...]
http://www.holtww.com Marc Holt

Go to http://richarddawkins.net/forum/ and ask for us atheists to help. We need to put pressure, a lot of pressure, on the Egyptian government to stop this bullshit! Fight ignorance, prejudice and stupidity wherever we can!!!
http://www.freekareem.org/2007/02/20/kareem%e2%80%99s-father-talks-to-egyptian-newspaper/ Free Kareem! » Blog Archive » Kareem’s Father Talks to Egyptian Newspaper

[...] Previously reported by Al-Masree Al-Yawm: Kareem’s Family Disowns Him; Father Wants Him Killed If He Does Not “Repent” [...]
http://thehillchronicles.com Layla

It is so sad that Kareem’s father disowned him, but that is so typical of these situations. I am saddened by this new turn of events. God bless Kareem for speaking the truth! God will save him for that!
Admin

Thanks Marc. I just did:

http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9166
http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9167

All the best,

Admin.
http://thehillchronicles.com/2007/02/20/kareems-family-disowns-him-father-talks-to-egyptian-newspaper/ The HILL Chronicles » Blog Archive » Kareems family disowns him-Father talks to Egyptian Newspaper

[...] Via Free Kareem: The article is in Arabic. Here’s my translation, in full: [...]
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/22/arabisc-bloggers-rally-to-kareems-support/ Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Arabisc: Bloggers Rally to Kareem’s Support

[...] Even his very own family disowned him a few days before his trial. “His father, a retired mathematics teacher, has demanded applying the Sharia [Islamic law] ruling on him by giving him three days to repent, followed by having him killed if he does not announce his repentance. [...]
http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1247 …My heart’s in Accra » Free Kareem, and everyone else illegally detained in Egypt

[...] Even his very own family disowned him a few days before his trial. [...]
CJ

I totally agree with Freedom of Speech and all that. but I guess that his parents also have the ‘freedom’ to disown their son.
http://gfousheegmail.com umar ali

I wish i knew what he said, i thought this was the english part of what he said. Do all the above people who made comments hate islam or the gov of Egypt. What did he say about islam that makes his father want to have him killed?
http://www.kitab.nl/2007/02/24/pakistan-online-freedom-of-speech-as-collateral-damage/ Pakistan: Online freedom of speech as collateral damage? at [fikra] فكرة

[...] Yesterday, February 22, 2007, the Egyptian blogsphere may have had to answer the same difficult questions, as the Egyptian court sentenced the 22-year-old blogger Abdel Kareem Soliman (aka Kareem Amer) to four years in prison for insulting Islam on his blog. The religious motivation has certainly facilitated the task of the Judicial Power to make of Kareem the first blogger to be prosecuted in Egypt. Even Kareem’s family has given the verdict a moral slant by disowning him a few days before his Court verdict session. Kareem’s father decided “to attend the court verdict session with his four brothers, who completely memorized the Holy Quran, to announce disowning the accused Abdul Kareem inside the court room, in order to reduce the embarrassment and pressure that civil rights organizations are applying on the court panel (…) The father of the accused also described the organizations that are working on having his son acquitted as “monkey rights” organizations.” [...]
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/24/free-kareem-the-caribbean-joins-in/ Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Free Kareem: The Caribbean joins in

[...] The Caribbean blogosphere tends to focus on internal matters, but the plight of Egyptian blogger Abdel Kareem Suleiman struck a chord nevertheless with a few bloggers, including Cuban-American journalist Marc Masferrer, who posts frequently on human rights issues relating to Cuba. On February 19, Masferrer encouraged readers to sign a petition and visit the Free Kareem website, saying: Free speech repressed somewhere, is free speech repressed everywhere. Even if our words never get us this kind of trouble, it is vital that we all remain vigilant, for freedom’s sake. [...]
http://ahmedsalib.wordpress.com/2007/02/21/silliness-and-thomfoolery-kareems-dad-steps-into-the-ring-and-wants-kareem-dead/ Silliness and Thomfoolery–Kareem’s Dad Steps Into the Ring and Wants Kareem DEAD « Unpopular Arab Thoughts That All Arabs Have Thought

[...] February 21st, 2007 http://www.freekareem.org/2007/02/18/kareem%e2%80%99s-family-disowns-him-father-wants-him-killed-if-he-does-not-%e2%80%9crepent%e2%80%9d/ [...]
Ismail El-Naggar (Abu Kareem)

awfully sorry to hear that. It seems Kareem had an extremely hard time before he was brought to “injustice” by the inquisition set up by his conservative family. This is a reflection of concervative society that imitates wahhabi extremism brought with the petrodollars from gulf states. Don’t worry Kareem that your own family disowned you. I’m going to name my first son after you. From now on, my name will be Abu Kareem.

Thank you Kareem. I learned form you that I shouldn’t follow the herd.

Best wishes

Abu kareem
http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/?p=7 Pakistan: Online freedom of speech as collateral damage? at Global Voices Advocacy

[...] Yesterday, February 22, 2007, the Egyptian blogsphere may have had to answer the same difficult questions, as the Egyptian court sentenced the 22-year-old blogger Abdel Kareem Soliman (aka Kareem Amer) to four years in prison for insulting Islam on his blog. The religious motivation has certainly facilitated the task of the Judicial Power to make of Kareem the first blogger to be prosecuted in Egypt. Even Kareem’s family has given the verdict a moral slant by disowning him a few days before his Court verdict session. Kareem’s father decided “to attend the court verdict session with his four brothers, who completely memorized the Holy Quran, to announce disowning the accused Abdul Kareem inside the court room, in order to reduce the embarrassment and pressure that civil rights organizations are applying on the court panel (…) The father of the accused also described the organizations that are working on having his son acquitted as “monkey rights” organizations.” [...]
Halim Kazi

Salute to Karim

Now we are in 21st century. We have to win the battle. We vow to snatch Karim out of prison.
http://gmargari.wordpress.com/2007/06/17/kareem/ Χθες ο Kareem έκλεισε τα 23. ΣΤΗ ΦΥΛΑΚΗ. Για ένα post… « Γιώργος Μαργαρίτης

[...] και η ίδια του η οικογένεια τον αποκλήρωσε. Ο πατέρας του τον αποκάλεσε δημόσια (μια μέρα πριν τη [...]
cristina

Never give up. Also if this means suffering or die
http://www.freekareem.org/2008/07/13/kareem-timeline-interactive/ Free Kareem! – Kareem Timeline, Interactive

[...] February 18th, 2007 – Kareem’s family disowns him; father wants him killed if he does not “repent.” The issue gets reported by Al Masree Al Yawm (The Egyptian Today) with an English translation by FreeKareem.org found here. [...]