Free Kareem! » Blog Archive » Note on comments…

The first time I heard of Kareem was on the BBC news site the day his verdict was announced. As a practicing Muslim, I do not agree with the views Kareem holds towards Islam and Al-Azhar in general, However, I find that it is important to allow people the freedom of speech.

From what I read on this site, I understood that Kareem considers himself as being secular, which is also another thing I don’t agree on. Being secular entails providing respect to all religions, and not being destructively critical, as the case is with many of Kareem’s opinions. He might have encountered many unfortunate incidents with certain characters that happened to be Muslim, but this does not mean that Islam supports such bad behaviours and what not.

I truly believe he deserves the freedom of speech and that the sentence was ridiculous, however, to consider him as being secular is incorrect. I hope he is freed for the sake of human rights, but I strongly disagree on most of his views.

Die Diskussion über den in Ägypten inhaftierten Blogger könnten verlogener gar nicht sein. “Kampf gegen Meinungsfreiheit – vier Jahre Haft für kritischen Blogger” titelt der Spiegel und führt aus:
Wochenlang hatten Blogger und Menschen…

But even if Kareem criticized the things done by those who are supposedly “Muslim”, such criticism is NOT a just and fair reason for 4 years of imprisonment.

Unless the Egyptian clergy and Mubarrak’s government ARE AFRAID of such rational investigation of the truth.

“We have given power to the people.”
“The Best-Beloved of all things in My sight is Justice. Turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me.” Baha’u'llah, the One Promised by Muhammad

Those who believe deeply should not be afraid of criticism. We have minds for a purpose: to think. The person who wants to kill someone who contradicts him merely shows his lack of confidence in what he believes. I think that that is why such sincere Muslims have stood up for rights and justice — because they are not afraid of contradiction or dissent, but welcome it as a means of testing and reaffirming their own beliefs. Only those who have secret doubts would hit someone because they didn’t like his or her dissenting views.

Those who stand by the principle of freedom of speech can still do much. Respectful letters to the Egyptian Ambassadors around the world can make a difference. They should ask the authorities to correct the mistake that was made and to release Kareem. They should not be angry, but reasonable and give the authorities the option to save face by correcting a mistake and releasing Kareem. It’s easy to help someone who needs our help — it only takes a few minutes to send a letter, a fax, or an email. It can make a difference in the life of a young man who has been unjustly robbed of his freedom, as well as a difference to people the world over who want to live in peace. Governments everywhere know that if “they” can do “it” (suppress dissent), then “we” can do it, too. The cause of freedom of speech knows no borders. When one man is forced to shut up, we are all threatened.

“You will do me the justice to remember, that I have always strenuously supported the Right of every Man to his own opinion, however different that opinion might be to mine. He who denies to another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it.” – Thomas Paine

This is a quote ALL governments should be built upon…

I’ll widespread the link