We just set up a Free Kareem account on Twitter (a new social networking site.) If you use Twitter, please consider following the campaign’s latest updates and activities. The Committee to Protect Bloggers also has an account which you should consider using if you are interested in bloggers worldwide who are in the same position as Kareem.

We also have a Facebook account, and a MySpace one, both of which were set up by helpful volunteers. Please add either or both if you use these services.

Mutual friend Shahinaz received a letter from Kareem, noting:

I just got a letter from Kareem Amer, the envelope was already open, of course they read every single word Kareem is writing but anyway his letter reached me which is the important thing.

Kareem is fine AlhamedLallah (thank God) , I want to thank all the people who sent him letters in his prison supporting him, Kareem said that he got about 6 letters from all over the world.

So keep doing a good job and support him. Kareem says a special hi to all the bloggers and supporters.

We would like thank everyone who took the time to send him letters. You really helped to keep Kareem hopeful and in high spirits.

If you didn’t send Kareem a letter yet, please do so! It’s really making him hang in there during such a difficult time. His prison address may be found here.

Previous letters from Kareem may be found here.

Alexandra Sandels reports:

A former student at Al-Azhar University, 22-year-old Amer was sentenced in January of this year to four years in prison for insulting Islam and President Mubarak on his internet blog. The case marks the first time Egypt sentences a blogger for ‘tarnishing’ online writings.

Correction of the article - Kareem was actually sentenced on the 22nd of February, after months of being in prison without fair trial, but moving on:

As co-chairs of the Congressional Task Force on International Religious Freedom (TIRF), Franks and Cleaver also stressed the need for the Egyptian authorities to investigate the alleged rise of Islamic extremism at Al-Azhar University and attacks on Coptic Christian communities in Egypt; topics Amer addressed on his blog.

Furthermore, following several security crackdowns on outspoken Egyptian bloggers in the past year, Franks and Cleaver urged Mubarak to protect freedom of expression for all Egyptian bloggers and “ensure Egypt’s vibrant blogging community continues to thrive without persecution.”

The alleged deteriorating press environment in Egypt has caught the attention of rights groups around the world.

It concludes:

Earlier this year, Franks spoke to the Egyptian Ambassador in Washington Nabil Fahmy, and urged him to “look into the case of Amer.”

Members of the US Congress also submitted a bipartisan letter to the ambassador in January, demanding the release of Amer.

On March 12, Amer lost his court appeal and began his prison term.

But his supporters still pin hopes on foreign governments and rights groups to take continued action in the case.

While his prison term started in late February, today marks Kareem’s 283rd day in prison, as his arrest took place on the 6th of November.

You can read Trent Franks’ press release here, which was published earlier this month.

If you are interested in a good way to spread awareness and to help us get the message across to Egypt, please consider being a part of our worldwide rallies. The next date will be Friday, November 9th, which will be 3 days after Kareem’s one year anniversary in prison.

Click here for info. Contact us if you are interested in getting involved. Kareem is depending on your help.

A few days ago a reader posted a comment on why it’s hard to sympathize with Kareem, due to his harsh remarks about Islam. We are going to feature it here because the reader wrote the post kindly without being rude or insulting, which has unfortunately become very rare to come across. If comments are written as respectfully as the one below then we will be more than happy to address it.

This is a response from Mohammed Abdulhaleem to our post about writing letters of support to Kareem:

A reader has kindly sent us this sample letter which may be helpful to those planning to keep alerting Egyptian embassies worldwide about Kareem’s case, which we strongly encourage you to do. You may find the relevant information/addresses here. Feel free to use the sample letter below:

[Your name and address]
______________________________________________________________

[Date]

His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Nabil Ismail Fahmy
The Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt
3521 International Court, NW
Washington, DC 20008

Re: Mr. Abdul Kareem Nabeel Suleiman (Kareem Amer)

Dear Mr. Ambassador:

I wish to express my concern regarding the case of Mr. Abdul Kareem Nabeel Suleiman (Kareem Amer). I understand that Mr. Suleiman was imprisoned for the expression of his personal opinions.

I join the many people around the world who have expressed the hope that the Ministry of Justice will favorably review this case, and free Mr. Sulieman. I also add my support to those who have urged that the safety and humane treatment of Mr. Sulieman be ensured. All of these actions will reflect well on the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Thank you very much for considering this matter.

Very truly yours,

[Your name]

This is also available in Word Document for easier editing.

Please keep others aware of Kareem’s case! Let government officials know that he will never be forgotten, and this crime against humanity shall not be dismissed.

The Southland Times reports, ‘Pupils join protest to support human rights’ -

Southland Girls’ High School pupil Charlotte Leask signing a gumboot to symbolise Amnesty International’s “Give Google the Boot” protest.

Girls’ High joined activists nationwide in a protest to defend human rights in cyberspace as part of this year’s Amnesty International Freedom Challenge.

Last year Google launched a self-censoring Chinese search engine, which affects Chinese users by restricting search results for topics such as human rights and political reform.

These restrictions go against the constitution of the People’s Republic of China, which guarantees freedom of expression, Amnesty International says.

The school’s challenge aims to free Chinese journalist Shi Tao and Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer who are in jail for simple internet activities.

Tao is serving a 10-year sentence for sending an e-mail containing information on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. While Amer, a student activist, is serving four years for writing a blog criticising his university and Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.

Students raise funds, from The Timaru Herald -

Julia said the campaign was about shutting down repression and rebooting human rights. This year’s theme was internet repression and working to end the restriction of freedom of expression on the internet.
She said it was based on Kareem Amer, who was imprisoned for blogging his thoughts on the government and journalist Shi Tao, who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in 2004 for posting information on the web instructing fellow journalists how to handle media coverage of Tiananmen Square.

Roncalli students fighting for freedom

All of these students did a great job in this wonderful opportunity to voice their concerns for innocent victims like Kareem and Shi Tao. We at the Free Kareem Coalition truly appreciate it and strongly encourage other students in the world to take their lead and support the battle for human rights and free speech.

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Recent video concerning Kareem’s case:

In a recent press release, Congressman Franks stated:

“I am very concerned about Kareem and the example Egypt is setting in the region by suppressing peaceful discussion of human rights concerns. It is time for President Mubarak to back up his stated support for democracy with action— by making the laws consistent with Egypt’s international human rights commitments, pardoning those who have been unjustly convicted, and ensuring that government officials and society respect these commitments.”

Kareem’s case is only one example of the deterioration in Egypt’s stated respect for human rights and religious freedom over the past year. Most recently, there have been serious concerns that Shaymaa al-Sayed, a Christian convert who was taken into custody by the Egyptian police, interrogated, and later released to her family – who beat her before driving her away – will be killed by them if the State does not intervene soon. In late May, five Koranists were arrested in Egypt. The letter addresses concerns related to several other religious groups, including the Baha’i, Jewish and Coptic Christian communities which have all experienced similar problems.

Read full press release here.