Kareem’s father talks to Al-Masree Al-Yawm (’The Egyptian Today’) on Kareem’s past, and accuses a feminist writer and a leader of the expatriate Copts of leading his son to his “heresy”. (Hat tip: Dalia).

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

The Family of the Accused of Contempt of Religion Accuses Nawal El Saadawi and Adli Abadeer of Encouraging Him to Infidelity

Written by Naser El Sharqawy
20/2/2007

(Photo: The father of the accused.)

The family of Al-Azhar [University] student Muhammad Abdul Kareem Nabeel Suleiman, who is accused of contempt of religion, and whose verdict will be delivered by the Alexandria Criminal Court on the upcoming Thursday, has accused writer Nawal El Saadawi and Adli Abadeer, a leader of the expatriate Copts, of being behind his heresy and infidelity.

The father of the accused, an engineer in the Alexandria Directorate of Agriculture, asserted that his son was in constant touch with El Saadawi and Abadeer after he established an Internet Web site attacking the masculine society and women’s rights in Islam. He also constantly published articles on Coptic Web sites that contained insults to Islam and to the messenger [the prophet of Islam] - peace and blessings be upon him -.

His father added: “Following the publication of these writings, I requested that he desist from these thoughts so he does not get expelled from his studies at the Faculty of Sharia [Islamic law] at Al-Azhar. And indeed, a disciplinary hearing was held in the university and some scholars conversed with him. However, he insisted on his position and thus he was transferred to the Prosecutor. And when he refused to back down from his thoughts, he was referred to trial with the charge of contempt of religion.”

His father revealed that, when his son started attending university, he refused to live with students who listen to music.

His father also said that his son abandoned his studies, got interested in forming friendships through the Internet, and constantly visited Christian Web sites. After that, he was arrested following the events of the Moharam Bek church in Alexandria, because of articles he published commenting on the events of the sectarian sedition then. He was held for 18 days. Following his release, some Internet bloggers contacted him, and they convinced him that they were the reason he got out of prison.

His father asserted that after that [incident], his son initiated declaring his damaging opinions, to the extent that they were surprised with him informing them that he will openly break the fast in the end of the month of Ramadan. His father accused the human rights organizations for losing his son’s opportunity to declare his repentance, and that’s by their aiding and defending him.

Previously reported by Al-Masree Al-Yawm: Kareem’s Family Disowns Him; Father Wants Him Killed If He Does Not “Repent”

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