A Free Kareem protest was held in Greece in front of the Egyptian Embassy, where the protesters were unfortunately assaulted by the embassy’s guards.
This protest would have not been possible without the organization and support of Fotis Perlikos, who also sent us these photos. Thank you Fotis and to everyone who attended this protest for your continued support of freedom of speech!
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information reports that Kareem is being beaten at the State Security Intelligence (SSI) headquarters in Alexandria where he was held illegally for the past five days. The press release notes that Kareem has completed his full sentence and should therefore be released. A translation of the report’s highlights are below:
On the 6th of November Kareem Amer was released from the Borj Al Arab prison, where he was held for years, and his official release was meant to be processed, however he was detained by the State Security Intelligence in Alexandria where he faced beatings by a junior officer as well as an order for his continued detainment.
Gamal Eid, the director of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, said that these practices against an unarmed prisoner is creating a climate of hatred against the police forces in general and the State Security Intelligence officials in particular. Kareem already spent years of punishment and his release is now a legal obligation, therefore why is he being beaten and held illegally?
The network stresses that holding a prisoner under these conditions despite having completed the sentence given four years ago is an injustice that people will not be willing to forget. Egypt’s ministry of interior will have to one day answer for these crimes. The ministry in question, with all its soldiers and officers, are not more powerful than a person’s right.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information released a statement today noting further deplorable violations of Kareem’s rights. Security officers of the Borj al Arab prison broke into his prison cell and took away his letters of support, which Kareem has been receiving from around the world.
They also confiscated his notebook, where he keeps his personal thoughts in an attempt to cope with his unjust imprisonment. They have done this for no apparent reason than to abuse a free speech advocate who remains imprisoned since November 6, 2006 merely for his blog posts.
This is not the first time it has happened. In August 2008, some of Kareem’s books and other reading materials were arbitrarily confiscated.
Kareem has completed more than 3/4 of his sentence, however he is still not being released.
Cinzia Polese, who is volunteering as country coordinator for Egypt at Amnesty UK, alerted us that her group is running a campaign to raise further awareness on Kareem. They’re requesting supporters to send a picture of themselves holding a keyboard, representing freedom of speech, with posters that say “Free Kareem” on it. Below are some photos:
Update: More photos!
Latest coverage of Kareem: Democratic Forces Face Tough Time in Egypt’s Coming Election.
And, referring to a blogger who was sentenced to a four-year jail sentence for calling President Hosni Mubarak a “symbol of dictatorship,” and Al-Azhar University a “university of terror,” prosecutor Mohammed Dawud warned, “If we let people like him off without punishment, a wildfire will blaze up that consumes everything in its path.” He added, “Exactly that is what civil rights activists dream of, many of whom pin their hopes on a grass-roots digital democratization initiated by the country’s bloggers.”
Harassment of bloggers has increased year by year since then. For example:
In 2007, blogger Kareem Amer, an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for criticizing President Hosni Mubarak and Egypt’s al-Azhar religious authorities on his blog.
Below is a list of news coverage mentioning Kareem throughout the year 2010 thus far:
Egypt blogger military trial criticised
Egypt: Pledge Serious Human Rights Reform
Egypt and Libya: A Year of Serious Abuses
It’s official: Blogging is a dangerous business
A barometer of religious intolerance
Foreign languages:
Egypte: Le blogueur “Kareem Amer” condamné à quatre ans de prison
Kolejny bloger przed egipskim sądem
Vários países estão a prender jornalistas on-line e autores de blogues
Arabiske blogs giver unge stemme
Egitto conferma la lotta ai blogger
IUF Berlin, who also organized two previous rallies in Germany (rally 2; rally 1 pictures, rally 1 video), assisted us once again with an “undercover” campaign for Kareem.
A grand ball was held at the Interconti Berlin, under the patronage of the Egyptian Ambassador to Germany, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy. Members of the IUF managed to get into the lobby of the event location and handed out several hundred buttons to the ball guests who entered the hotel. The buttons were pinned to dresses and jackets and read in Arabic: “We are all with Kareem Amer”. In the ballroom, the Egyptian Ambassador along with embassy staff and Egyptian businessmen were able to read this friendly reminder that Kareem is not forgotten by his friends and supporters.
A petition was handed to a guest who entered the ballroom, which could only be accessed by invited guests, with the request to deliver the petition to the Ambassador.
Here are the pictures, a video will also be added later.
The entrance to the Interconti Hotel, note the pyramidal shape of the lobby....
Approaching the entrance to the hotel
Entering the lobby
In the lobby
Successfully handing out the first buttons to the guests
Slightly hesitant in pointing out the best spot to pin on the button
The pins
Pin sample
The main ball-room
The dance
A first newspaper report after the ball
A video will be available later!
Kareem’s final appeal today was rejected, and Kareem will be forced to remain in prison until November 2010. That is another 1 full year for Kareem in prison where he risks further torture.
Please do not remain silent. Express your outrage. Help out!
Write to Kareem and let him know he’s not alone in this struggle for free speech and justice.
Please check back in a few days where we will notify you on planned rallies and events.
Kareem must be freed.
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!
Bureaucrash and other liberty activists in Washington, DC will be holding a Free Kareem rally from 12pm – 1pm, November 6th at the following location:
Egyptian Cultural & Educational Bureau
1303 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington DC 20036
Map:
Please join us to show your solidarity for individual liberty and free speech. If you would like to network with people attending the rally please view the following websites:
Thank you.
Lee Doren
Bureaucrash
As we reported earlier, the decision of September’s appeal was meant to be announced today. However, it has been postponed until the 22nd of December. In the meantime, Kareem will remain imprisoned despite his innocence.
We are extremely upset by this discouraging news, as his trials are consistently delayed, causing him to remain in prison for much more than he should be, even though he already completed 3/4th of his sentence.
Please tweet this news by using the #FreeKareem tag. Express your outrage at this gross human rights violation. Kareem must be freed!
