17 year old Kenneth Bergfeld came across Kareem’s story in Germany. He felt that such an injustice must be fought. He wishes to share his artistic contribution with the Free Kareem campaign and the rest of the world, and thus, here is Kenneth’s portrait of Kareem, followed by his description of it:

My painting may not look 100% like Kareem, but it probably is the most “famous” picture of him and the facial expression of his give reason enough for a spectator to recognize Kareem or at least to assume it is him.

The painting has the measurements of 120 cm times 80 cm and the medium is acrylics on canvas.

I’d like to stress why it was important for me to paint Kareem. When reading the newspaper article concerning Kareem’s situation it felt awkward to me that although we live in a globalized world issues such as the freedom of speech can not be taken for granted everywhere.

I had difficulties imaging myself being imprisoned for sharing my own opinion in school (Kareem’s case is that of university). It seems so normal that we say what is on our heart, that we speak out our concerns, criticize government, leaderships and various institutions. Yet, there are countries where these freedoms are not granted to the people.

So the question for me was what I could do in order to feel with these political prisoners. What could I do to understand their destiny? How could I show my concern and bring it into public so that more people knew about Kareem? And most important: How can I show those regimes that although there are vast oceans and thousand of miles between them and me I get in on the injustices taking place there? The answer was simple to me.

I sketch and draw since I was a little kid telling stories of my vacations, field trips or of fictional fantasies. Now, at my age of 17, I am politically concerned and I felt that it was lain on my heart to paint Kareem.

I am hoping to study arts after graduating from high school and aspire that then I can reach even more people with my message. There are millions of people who are interested in stories like the one of Kareem, but in our modern age of mass media with advertisements and billboards robbing any free squarefoot of our skies it seems hard to really see what is relevant and what not. Stories of people like Kareem have to be made public in any thinkable way that there is.

I have experienced this during the process of painting Kareem and hope to do so when “Kareem” will be hanging at a local art exhibition this Saturday and Sunday (15th and 16th of December).

Nonetheless, I have a specific view on why it is important to fight for people like Kareem.

As already said before, we can show governments far away that we do not support them (furthermore, feel grievance at the way they act) through the internet and sites like FreeKareem.org.

It is such people like this that do their part for the good fight and you out there that can make a change. If we unite globally, we cannot be defeated. Maybe your contribution is art, writing to Kareem, blogging, or any other way of showing your participation. But, the most important thing is that no matter how minor your contribution may seem at first sight someone in the world may be inspired to take even bigger action. The future is unwritten. And we can write it for the good of people like Kareem who do not experience the same advantages as we do and need support so that they have the feeling that someone out there is listening to them.

Anyone can feel free to contact me. Thank you very much for your interest.

This is an excellent and unique contribution and the Free Kareem Coalition is extremely honored to be sharing Kenneth’s work.

Thank you, dear Kenneth, for your time and dedication to Kareem’s cause and for the willingness to fight this grave injustice which was committed by the Egyptian government! Thank you!

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