Egyptian blogger and Kareem’s friend Wa7damasrya received a letter from Kareem noting that he feels lonely as he hasn’t received a letter from anyone in a while. He feels very sad because a lot of prisoners were set free after serving 3/4 of their sentence, except for him. All the other prisoners who were released after 3/4 of their sentence were originally there for criminal behavior that includes theft, violence, and drug trafficking. Kareem wonders how this regime pardoned people who committed actual crimes and did not pardon him despite the fact that his only “crime” was expressing his opinions online.

He is waiting for the decision on the 22nd of December, and he still has hope that he may get released after this upcoming and final appeal. He wishes to be free and that people don’t forget him in these days.

Kareem’s lawyer tried to visit him, but was actually rejected from meeting Kareem twice this year even though she had a written permission to do so.

He adds that his case was presented to a State Security committee with other prisoners who completed 3/4 of their sentence, and that the state security officials who refused to release him are the same ones who are rejecting visitiors to Kareem. This is a punishment of its own merely because of Kareem’s views and published articles, rejected by the regime and extremists alike.

Please, we ask you all to write to Kareem and let him know that he’s far from alone in this struggle. Please let him know that you’ll be there for him and ready to fight back if his final appeal tomorrow is rejected.

Kareem has been in prison for 1120 days. One can only imagine what 1120 days in an Egyptian prison cell, being humiliated on a daily basis and occasionally tortured, can do to a person.

If you were in such a position, would you want someone to support you through it? Would a supportive letter from a complete stranger help? Knowing that someone, somewhere, cares about your struggle for free speech, and admires your courage, enough to take the time to express that in a letter? Even if it’s just a postcard, it would mean a lot to you.

Please, take a few moments to write a supportive letter to Kareem. Let him know you’re there and that he’s not alone. Send this to 10 more people and have them send one too.

You may also write to these Egyptian Officials and Diplomats to express your outrage at the fact that Kareem is still imprisoned for his blog posts.

A rally took place for Kareem today in Washington, DC, as reported earlier here. Below is a video:

We’d like to thank our friends at Bureaucrash for making this rally possible, and for their consistent support for Kareem! Washington, DC has always been a strategic location to hold a Free Kareem rally as the U.S government continues to fund Mubarak’s dictatorship despite being aware of the massive human rights violations that take place under his rule. Indeed, we all must correct this injustice!

A small group of supporters met in front of the Egyptian Embassy, Elfenauweg 61, in Bern, Switzerland, on November 6, 2009 to protest against the imprisonment of Kareem Amer, calling for his release after his third year in prison. Nobody from the Embassy dared to go out and speak with the participants. Only a curtain moved inside the building. The Swiss police on duty was handed an envelope containing a message for the embassador asking for Kareem’s release.

Here are some pictures.

We would like to thank longtime Free Kareem supporter Maryvonne for her assistance, her efforts, courage, and constant willingness to help out. We know that our friend Kareem is extremely appreciative of these efforts which will never go forgotten. Thank you Maryvonne!

The following is a guest post from Maryvonne, organizer of the Free Kareem Rally in Bern, Switzerland:

For three years now, Kareem Amer has been in prison for expressing his opinions. Although the authorities customarily grant a release request after three quarters of a prisoner’s sentence, Kareem’s hearing has been repeatedly postponed and is still pending.

In the West and especially in Switzerland, we enjoy free speech. That is why we are organizing a rally in front of the Embassy of Egypt, Elfenauweg 61, in Bern, on Friday, November 6, 2009, between 11 and 11:30 a.m.

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French:

Trois ans déjà que Kareem Amer est emprisonné pour des faits qui relèvent de la liberté d’expression. Sa demande de mise en liberté devant la cour de Cassation après l’accomplissement des trois-quarts de la peine et qui est habituellement accordée, est encore repoussée.

Nous avons le privilège et en particulier en Suisse de pouvoir nous exprimer librement. C’est pourquoi nous organisons un Rallye devant l’ambassade d’Egypte, Elfenauweg 61, à Berne, le vendredi 6 novembre 2009 de 11h à 11h30.

Bus 19, arrêt Willadingweg.

Comme dans d’autres capitales dans le monde, venez avec nous affirmer dans la dignité que la liberté individuelle et la liberté de pensée et de parole sont un droit de l’homme.

German:

Es ist schon drei Jahre her, seit Kareem Amer wegen Tätigkeiten, die zur Meinungsfreiheit gehören, inhaftiert worden ist. Das Freiheitsgesuch vor dem Hochgerichtshof ist zum dritten Mal verschoben worden.

Wir haben insbesondere in der Schweiz das Privileg, uns frei zu äussern. Deshalb organisieren wir am Freitag, 6. November 2009 zwischen 11 und 11.30 Uhr einen Rallye vor der ägyptischen Botschaft, Elfenauweg 61, in Bern.

Bus 19, Haltestelle Willadingweg

Wie in anderen Hauptstädten wollen wir mit Würde bestätigen, dass individelle Freiheit und freie Meinungsäusserung Menschenrechte sind.