A day late, because we decided to learn about the Monday appeal session before publishing the Digest:

Highlights:
A. Breaking, March 12: Appeal Court Upholds Four-Year Sentence; Coalition Issues Press Release (Quick link)
B. Web Site Enhancements: HOW YOU CAN HELP KAREEM! (Quick link)
C. Press & Media Coverage (Quick link)
D. Translation: What Kareem Said (Quick link)
E. Helping Kareem (Quick link)
F. Podcast (Quick link)
G. Arab & Muslim Voices for Kareem (Quick link)
H. Blogosphere (Quick link)

A. Breaking, March 12: Appeal Court Upholds Four-Year Sentence
The Alexandria Appeal Court has upheld the four-year prison sentence against Kareem Amer. Furthermore, the judge approved a civil claim filed by the eleven lawyers who want to fine Kareem for ‘insulting Islam’. Kareem’s lawyers will apply for the Court of Cassation (third degree).

Press release: Interfaith Coalition Condemns Egyptian Court for Denying Arrested Blogger’s Appeal

B. Web Site Enhancements: HOW YOU CAN HELP KAREEM!

- Here’s What You Can Do To Help Kareem! We have compiled a comprehensive list of ways you can help Kareem Amer. The list includes a letter writing campaign, with addresses of the Egyptian President, Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, and Ambassadors from more than 50 countries worldwide! We are also providing sample letters and a press kit over the next few days.

- Check out our YouTube Video Collection!

- See also our photo gallery on our Facebook group (requires free registration), and make use of them as you wish.

C. Press & Media Coverage

- U.S. State Department: ”Very concerned” over sentencing of Egyptian blogger

- Egypt’s Foreign Minister: We reject criticism of Kareem’s case from anyone, “whoever he may be”

- The Washington Post: The Egyptian Embassy in Washington, D.C., wrote a letter to The Washington Post defending Kareem’s imprisonment, claiming that Kareem was sentenced under an impartial judicial process. U.S. Congressman Trent Franks and the Free Kareem Coalition both had their responses to the Embassy published.

-BBC News: Egypt anger over US rights report

- Metro Holland: Blogging is a Crime in Egypt
Metro Holland has a daily production of over 500,000 copies, reaching around one million readers.

A screen shot: (click here for full-scale image)

English translation here.

- Reuters: Egypt’s bloggers test state media control.

- Elaph: Attempting to eliminate opinions is futile unless faced by disagreeing opinions.
Elaph is a leading Arab liberal Web site that has more than 300,000 readers per day.

- Die Zeit, the most widely read German weekly newspaper, has been publishing a Series of articles on Kareem’s case.

- A recent article on Al-Ahram Weekly contains inaccurate information regarding Kareem’s case. The Free Kareem Coalition points them out: Correcting Al-Ahram Weekly.

D. Translations: What Kareem Said

- We have updated the What Kareem Said section, most notably with a translation of his final post, two days before his interrogation: Your Blessings, O Azhar!

Excerpt:

I hereby declare that I do not acknowledge the legitimacy of my summons to investigate a matter like this, which is within the realm of my freedom to express my opinions. This freedom was stipulated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Egypt has supposedly signed. Moreover, setting this declaration aside, and even if it did not exist, and even if Egypt did not sign it, human rights are very self-evident matters that do not require legislations or laws to regulate them or to define their essence.

To every gloating and spiteful person among those who envision that the likes of these primitive measures might change my positions, affect me, or force me to stray from walking in the path that I have set for myself, I say: Die in your rage and hide in your burrows. I shall not recant, not even by an inch, from any word I have written. These restrictions will not preclude my dream of obtaining my freedom, for that has been my wish ever since I was a child, and it will continue to run in my imagination in endlessness.

E. Helping Kareem

Here’s What You Can Do To Help Kareem!

F. Podcast

- PJM Podcast Talks about Kareem, Freedom of Speech in Middle East.
An interesting discussion on the plight of Kareem Amer, and what jailing him can mean for the future of Internet freedom, as well as freedom of speech in general, in the Middle East.

Fast-forward to 16:50 to listen to their nine-minute discussion on Kareem:

Download MP3 (or visit PJM’s Blog Week In Review to just listen).

G. Arab & Muslim Voices for Kareem

- Muslim Brotherhood journalist: I disagree with Kareem, but punishing him is unjust

- Freedom for Egyptians: Egyptian Blogger Abdel Karim Suleiman Did Not Blow Himself Up in a Train Station.

- Munshie (Arabic).

H. Blogosphere

- Blogosfere.it:

Kareem Amer: ecco cosa ha scritto il blogger in carcere

Il blogger egiziano in carcere: ce ne siamo già dimenticati?

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