Highlights:
A. Appeal Court Upholds Four-Year Sentence (Quick link)
B. What’s New with Kareem: Index on Censorship Winner, English PEN Honorary Membership (Quick link)
C. Statements from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada (Quick link)
D. Reporters Without Borders, French Bloggers Hold Surprise Demonstration (Quick link)
E. Press & Media Coverage: CNN, RSF (Quick link)
F. Helping Kareem Through Art! (Quick link)
G. Blogosphere (Quick link)

A. 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. Press release in Portuguese here.

B. What’s New with Kareem: What’s New with Kareem: Index on Censorship Winner, English PEN Honorary Membership
- Kareem was awarded the 2007 Hugo Young Award for Journalism at the 7th Annual Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards Ceremony on March 14. These awards are presented to honor the world’s champions of freedom of expression: Index Freedom of Expression Awards.

- Kareem Amer is now an Honorary member of English PEN, “the world’s only international fellowship of writers, working together to promote literature and defend the freedom to write.” By electing imprisoned writers like Kareem Amer as Honorary members, PEN members offer “solidarity with their international colleagues … they are sent membership cards, letters and books – this helps to lessen the damaging effects of fear and isolation, and provides hope for the future.” Kareem’s English PEN profile: Abdul Kareem Nabil Suleiman (Kareem Amer).

C. Statements from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada
- From the U.S. Department of State: Egyptian Blogger Appeal Denied.

The United States is disappointed that the initial appeal of Egyptian student blogger, Abdel Karim Soliman, was not successful. He is the first Egyptian blogger to be prosecuted for the content of his remarks, and his conviction is a setback for human rights in Egypt. The role of freedom of expression is critical in a democratic and prosperous society. The right to freedom of opinion and expression, through any media, applies to everyone and is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We were deeply concerned by his conviction and prison sentence for expressing his opinions. We note that Mr. Soliman can pursue a further appeal, and we will continue to closely monitor this case.

- UK Independence Party Euro MP Derek Clark, intervening in the Euro-Mediterranean debate in the European Parliament, brought up the case of Kareem Amer’s imprisonment: Free Speech requires action.

Excerpt of his statement:

Mr. Clark affirmed his belief in freedom of speech and questioned whether taxpayer’s money should be going to countries such as Egypt. He said, “Only last week the EU signed an Action Plan with Egypt, but made no demands that that country in which it states, ‘Support Egyptian government efforts to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in line with international conventions to which Egypt is party’. This pure hypocrisy in the light of the continued imprisonment of Kareem whose only offence is exercise his right to freedom of speech“.

- Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office has sent the Coalition a response to our request for their assistance: (Click on the image for an enlarged version.)

Excerpt:

Please be assured that your comments have been carefully reviewed. I have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your letter to the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs. I am certain that the Minister will appreciate being made aware of your concerns and will wish to give the matter every consideration.

D. Reporters Without Borders, French Bloggers Hold Surprise Demonstration
Along with well-known French bloggers, RSF members repeatedly chanted (in French), “Free Kareem Amer!” in front of Egypt’s stand at Paris’ world tourism trade fair. The spokesman in the videos below says (paraphrase): “There is this postcard image of Egypt, but beyond it are hundreds of political prisoners, as well as imprisoned and harassed journalists.” He goes on to describe Kareem’s case. He stresses that people can and should go to Egypt for tourism, but that they shouldn’t be oblivious to the larger reality.

Opération Kareem Amer
Uploaded by SachaQS

Photos, courtesy of Reporters Without Borders:

Statement by RSF: Reporters Without Borders and French bloggers demonstrate at Egypt’s stand for release of blogger “Kareem Amer”.

Please note that RSF has its own blog tool; confidentiality of any information submitted by bloggers is guaranteed. The Coalition encourages you to sign up. The funds raised from this blog service enable RSF to help bloggers who are living under in difficult conditions… Bloggers like Kareem.

E. Press & Media Coverage: CNN, RSF
- CNN: Cairo Cracks Down on Bloggers

On YouTube:

- Reporters Without Borders: Appeal court upholds four-year sentence for blogger “Kareem Amer”

Excerpt:

During today’s appeal hearing, the presiding judge ruled that the courts could accept complaints brought by individual lawyers demanding reparations from Suleiman for “insulting” Islam in his blog, for which he used the pseudonym “Kareem Amer.” He said Suleiman would appear soon before a civil court, which could order him to pay damages to lawyers who had brought complaints. For more information

Meanwhile, Alexandria appeal court president Abdel Fattah Murad yesterday brought a complaint against the Egyptian government, demanding the closure of 21 websites that “attack the President of the Republic.” Local sources told Reporters Without Borders that the website of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information and the very popular blogs Baheyya and Gharbeia were among the sites concerned.

F. Helping Kareem Through Art!
- Launa Bacon from London recently created a projection project on the Egyptian Embassy building as a reaction to Kareem’s case:

G. Blogosphere
With excerpts:

- U.S. Congressman Trent Franks: Freedom of Speech Should Apply to Our Allies Too.

If Egypt is to be considered a vibrant and tolerant society, it must be a pluralistic one that protects freedom of speech and tolerance of religious diversity … As I write this, a young champion for freedom, Abdelkareem Nabil Soliman, sits in an Egyptian prison for ridiculing violence in the name of Islam. Surely, a country that sincerely values the dignity of every individual will immediately release this young man who is facing years of captivity for voicing opposition to the notion of violence in the name of religion.

- Daily Kos: You Must Go to FreeKareem.org

Kareem must be freed, and such violations of fundamental rights cannot be tolerated–here, or abroad.
To paraphrase the late, great Richard Jeni, “All of these religious wars are essentially being fought to determine who has the better imaginary freind.”

- Global Voices Online: Blogger Kareem’s Plight Continues to Grab Headlines
An excellent analysis of the Arab blogosphere’s reaction to the appeal court. Read it all!

- EU Referendum: Sentence Upheld! (Hat tip: David)

Fascinatingly enough, Egypt has offered to host the UN Internet Governance Forum in 2009. Will the United Nations accept the offer?

- The Dunce Cap Marvel: A true American hero

Why is he an American hero? I think this because he is brave enough to support his views for change and tolerance upon pain of death. I feel that he can remind us of who we are, what we are made of. When is the last time Americans were made to feel revolutionary, to feel that they were responsible for real change in the world? If there’s a way to win the war in the Middle East it has to be by supporting these people who stand up for change and democracy in their regimes and social orders. Military victory will not completely solve the problem. As Americans, we need to be champions of justice and human rights for every corner of the globe, not just from Seattle to San Diego to Bangor to Key West. We need to be proud of our role as moral compass to the world and work to promote human values everywhere, especially in nations who would call us their allies. … Do what you can and help work toward world democracy and tolerance. This isn’t something that only affects the people of Egypt and the Middle East. This is an American issue and Kareem is an American hero.

- Autour de la Liberté: Kareem Amer et la Rose Blanche du Caire (in French)

- The World Parliament Experiment: Karim Amer sentence makes bloggers new target of the authorities

The World Parliament Experiment condemns the four-year sentence handed down by an Egyptian court today against blogger Karim Amer, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

- Kathmandu Speaks: Call to all Nepalis Bloggers & Netizens

- Kirmalak: Understanding Dictators …

In a recent conversation here in Kingston about the case of Kareem Amer, I was trying to explain why I believe the Mubarak regime decided to go after this particular blogger at this particular time. As others have said before me, the regime decided to set a precedent in going after people for the content of their blogs. Egyptian bloggers have been a growing source of trouble for Mr. Mubarak and his enablers, posting not only arguments against dictatorship and for democracy, but also documented evidence of government wrongdoing, including a number of videos of police torture. It would come as no surprise if the trial and sentencing of Kareem were only the start of a larger movement against the Egyptian blogging community.

- The Eagle and Child: Egyptian Blogger jailed — digging a little deeper

So here we have… Not just a blogger — a civil rights crusader. A man who spoke up for Christians in a country where it is dangerous to do so; a man who defended women in a society where they are devalued. And for this courage of speaking up for the basic God-given dignity that each human being bears as a carrier of the imago dei, Kareem is jailed, and he loses the love of his family…

- Kalachakra: Four years for blogging

- Mudhook: Not in Cornwall…

Everyone who blogs or reads them should think about this. Here is a young man who is exercising freedom of thought and expression and is putting forward views that are routine in the democratic west. In any case it does not matter whether one agrees with his views or not, the issue is free speech. It is gratifying that several Muslims have bravely supported him though they disagree with his views.

- Hacking Away: AI - and I’m not talking about the film…

Four years in prison. For slagging off your president in a blog. I seem to remember that in one of my first blogs I made a bit of a jibe about our government. I’m still at home with my family. If I’d done it in Egypt I wouldn’t be.

- More blog articles at Tailrank.

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