After referring his case to “injustice” State Security Prosecution, Kareem Amer is sentenced to additional 45 days in custody

Cairo – 19 December 2006,

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) condemns Higher State Security Prosecution (HSSP) decision to hold in custody the Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer for additional 45 days pending investigation. Kareem’s case was eventually referred to HSSP to consider it.

Kareem Amer, held in custody since 45 days ago, arrived at Eastern Alexandria Integral Court guarded closely by officers from State Security Service in Alexandria. Kareem was also prevented from seeing his lawyer from HRinfo. The lawyer insisted on demanding whether to trial him or to immediately release him, upon the fact that the investigations have already been completed one month ago. However, the prosecution sentenced him for additional 45 days in custody.

Kareem Amer told HRinfo, in spite of prevention, that he is detained incommunicado at Al-Hadra prison in Alexandria. Such detention circumstances applied on Kareem are considered punitive, although he did no crime.

In addition, Kareem’s family is prevented from visiting him. This is considered a sever violation of law.

HRinfo’s lawyer was astonished that she heard before the start of investigation that Kareem is decided to spend additional 45 days in custody; this already took place after investigation. Therefore, suspicions are aroused that there are no adherence to fairness standards, to the extent that detention period is decided even before interrogating the accused.

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information deplores these injustice and unfair practices, and announces that Kareem’s life is in danger because of his detention circumstances and depriving him from his family visits. That is in addition to entitling State Security Service, which is famous for its brutality, to supervise his case. HRinfo calls upon local and international civil society to protect the life of that young opinion prisoner who is denied his right to be trialed.

Visit HRINFO for more information regarding Kareem’s case.

Cairo – 7 December 2006,

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) and Egyptian Observatory for Justice and Law (EOJL) call upon civil society and public opinion to support the opinion prisoner; Kareem Amer, who is imprisoned in Al-Hadra prison of Alexandria for some false charges. The real reason of his imprisonment is that he expressed his anti-governmental and anti-Islamic views on his own online articles.

Three lawyers from HRinfo and EOJL went yesterday to represent Kareem Amer before the prosecution. However, they were astonished with the misleading information given to them, in order to indirectly prevent them form representing Kareem, who was referred to Eastern Alexandria Prosecutor Office to be re-interrogated. Despite Kareem demanded to call for his lawyers who were awaiting him in Mohram Bek prosecutor office, his demand was denied and the prosecutor awarded him additional fifteen days in detention.

The lawyers were not waiting for Kareem alone; the judge of Mohram Bek Prosecution was waiting for him too. All of them were surprised when all the prisoners of Al-Hadra prison were brought to the prosecution excluding Kareem. The prisoners told the lawyers that the police and State Security Service took Kareem to Eastern Alexandria Prosecutor Office to interrogate him there. Then, the lawyers learnt that Kareem was awarded additional fifteen days, and his demand to wait for his lawyers was denied.

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information and Egyptian Observatory for Justice and Law (EOJL) call upon Egyptian and international civil society and public opinion to force the Egyptian government to eliminate its evasiveness and to immediately release Kareem Amer. If they believe that Kareem deserves punishment for what he wrote, they should refer him to court rather than renewing his detention. This is considered a sever violation of law and an arbitrary use of the hatful right of provisional detention.

Human Rights Organizations Condemn the Ongoing Detention of Egyptian Blogger and the Violation of His Right to Freedom of Expression
Kareem Amer is detained for an additional 15 days

Cairo – 11 November 2006

The Public Prosecutor Office of Alexandria re-detained the Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer for additional 15 days on Wednesday 8 November. This is considered a violation of his right to hold opinions without interference, which is stipulated in the Egyptian constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Egypt is a state-party.

“The arbitrary accusations against Kareem Amer indicate the authorities’ inclination to detain Kareem simply for expressing views contradictory to theirs. The Public Prosecutor told Kareem that if he did not abandon his views, even though personal, he may be imprisoned,” the undersigned human rights organizations stated.

The case of Amer is eventually testing the extent of respect granted by the Egyptian government to the right to freedom of expression, the Egyptian Constitution, and other international covenants which that right.

Kareem Amer deserves encouragement and support for risking his freedom for the sake of upholding his right to believe in secularism. His insistence on his right to freedom of expression had previously resulted in his expulsion from Al-Azhar University. The right to freedom of thought and expression is a basic human right that should not be undermined. Article 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, states:

Article 18: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change religion or belief, the freedom to manifest religion or belief in worship, observance, practice, and teaching either alone or in community with others and in public or private.”

Article 19: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

The undersigned human rights organizations call upon the Egyptian government to immediately release Kareem Amer, protect him against more harassment, and guarantee his right to freedom of expression.

Signatory Organizations:

From Egypt:

1. The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
2. The Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement
3. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
4. Association for Human Rights Legal Aid
5. Habi Center for Environmental Rights
6. Al-Nadeem Center for Psychological Rehabilitation and Treatment of Victims of Violence
7. Hisham Mubark Law Center
8. Land Center for Human Rights
9. Shomuu Assocaition for Human Rights and People with Disabilities
10. Egyptian Center for Human Rights
11. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
12. The Civil Observatory of Human Rights
13. Al-Ganob Center for Human Rights

From Bahrain:

14. Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights

To read the Arabic origional Click HERE

We have just been informed that tomorrow, Kareem will be re-interrogated by the prosecutor and his professors from Al-Azhar University. Let’s hope for the best!

The Daily Star Egypt just ran their story on Kareem:

Abdel Karim Suliman Amer, also known as “Kareem Amer,” a student blogger, was detained Monday by state authorities and is being held in custody for four days awaiting prosecution for his secular online writings in which he criticizes Islam, his lawyer told The Daily Star Egypt.

“Freedom of expression is a basic human right. We believe that Kareem Amer has the absolute right to express his personal views. This case is a clear violation of universal human rights principles,” Amer’s lawyer Rawda Amed, says in an interview with The Daily Star Egypt.

A former student at Al-Azhar University, Amer was reportedly expelled from the school in March 2006 because of his secular thoughts and online writings and critiques of Islam.

Following interrogations between Amer and his professors at Al-Azhar, the school filed a communiqué against Amer to the Office of the Public Prosecutor for his online writings.

“It is regrettable and shameful for a university to punish one of its students for practicing his basic right to freedom of expression. The university did not only dismiss him, but also did not hesitate to take up the role of an informer by filing a communiqué against him to the Public Prosecutor Office.

“Amer is targeted because he expressed his own views,” executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, Gamal Eid, argues.

Amer is currently accused of: “Spreading data and malicious rumors that disrupt public security”; “defaming the president of Egypt”; “incitement to overthrow the regime upon hatred and contempt”; and “incitement to hate ‘Islam’ and breach of the public peace standards.”

He is currently being held in custody for four days, pending investigation and prosecution.

Cairo – 7 November 2006

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) condemned today the prosecutorial decision to hold in custody the Egyptian blogger Abdel Karim Suliman Amer – known as “Kareem Amer” – for four days pending investigation. Al-Azhar University interrogated Kareem after dismissing him in March and then filed a communiqué against him to the Public Prosecutor Office because of his secular writings.

Security forces illegally arrested Kareem in October 2005 for twelve days on account of his online writings about the sectarian strife that took place in Alexandria last year. After releasing him Al-Azhar University wherein he is a registered student dismissed him because of his secular thoughts. Afterwards, the university filed a communiqué to the Public Prosecutor Office against Kareem. While prosecutorial interrogations, Kareem insisted on his right to freedom of _expression in respect with his secular ideas. Consequently, the prosecutor decided to keep him in custody for renewable four days pending investigation.

The interrogation process witnessed some violations by the Public Prosecutor Bureau, according to human rights lawyer of HRinfo who represented Kareem before the prosecutor. The monitored violations of the Public Prosecutor include the illegal attendance of three interrogators, laughing at Kareem while interrogating him, and addressing illegal questions to him (e.g. do you fast in Ramadan? Do you practice prayer?). It is evident that the interrogations with Kareem lacked integrity.

“It is regrettable and shameful for a university to punish one of its students for practicing his basic right to freedom of _expression. The university did not only dismiss him, but also did not hesitate to take up the role of an informer by filing a communiqué against him to the Public Prosecutor Office. Kareem is targeted because he expressed his own views,” HRinfo Executive Director; Gamal Eid Said. “Al-Azhar University is therefore presenting a bad model for any university. Freedom of Speech is to be defended by all even when ideas disagree”.

It is noteworthy that the claim no. 6677/2006 filed against Kareem in Mohram Bek Prosecution, Alexandria included arbitrary accusations which are considered to be in violation of the right to freedom of _expression; a violation targeting Egyptian writers, intellectuals, and political activists for almost 50 years.

Kareem Amer is charged with:
- Spreading data and malicious rumors that disrupt public security
- Defaming the President of Egypt
- Incitement to overthrow the regime upon hatred and contempt
- Incitement to hate “Islam” and breach of the public peace standards
- Highlighting inappropriate aspects that harm the reputation of Egypt and spreading them to the public

Furthermore, the fact that investigators of the Public Prosecution put aside their neutrality and allowed their own personal biases during an official investigation in a case of conscience is a serious threat not only to the future of a 22 year old young man, but also to freedom of _expression in Egypt. “Kareem was courageous when he defended his right to freedom of _expression despite his confidence that he will be imprisoned for this. Defenders of freedom of _expression and human rights in Egypt and worldwide are called upon to stand in solidarity and defend Kareem “, Eid said.

An interview with Dalia Ziada, who’s working on Kareem’s case from HRINFO:

Q. Kareem made it clear that he is not a fan of Islam and is in fact highly critical of the religion. Why do you, a devout Muslim, feel the need to support him?

A. Above all, it is Kareem’s absolute choice to be a Muslim, a Christian, a Jewish or even an atheist. Freedom of belief is one of the basic rights given to all humans. Prophet Mohammed himself never treated some one upon his/her religion. As an anti-extremism moderate Muslim I believe in human rights. Thereupon, I support Kareem’s right to express his own views the way he likes and to believe in whatever he wants.

Q. Why should other Muslims support him if he openly criticizes their religion?

A. I think we talk here about moderate Muslims who believe in the freedom of belief. If Kareem criticized Islam that does not mean that he hates us personally. He only expresses his own point of view. As Muslim civilized humans all what we should do is to respond to his criticism by clarifying the falseness of his criticism from our point of view. It does not mean that we –the holders of power – should silence the minority who contradicts our beliefs. That is the Islam I always knew before some political movements such as Muslim Brotherhood Group appears to allow the shedding of the blood of Bahaists only because they have another religion and to silence some atheists like Kareem just because he has a different view. Listen up Muslim brothers and sisters, we came to life only to worship Allah and to fill universe with life, love, and prosperity. We should not waste our time in fighting with non-Muslims only because they are non-Muslims. Only Allah has the right to do this, not us.

Q. Why did Kareem get arrested immediately for at least 4 days until the investigations proceed?

A. Kareem was too brave to the extent that he said it out loud to the prosecutor: “Yes sir, it is me the person who wrote these anti-Islam articles”. That is why he was detained for renewable four days until the investigations proceed.

Dalia ends by encouraging us to act upon this further through this statement:

I want to add something: people in the prosecutor office kept laughing at human rights and human rights activists. They believe that we are naïve enough to believe that there is something called human rights and that we can do something. Hey guys, let’s show them what we are able to do!

Let’s! The petition should be launched shortly and will hopefully circulate all over the web.

Tomorrow morning, an article about Kareem will be released on HRINFO.

As moderate Muslims, it is very important that we allow other Muslims (or ex-Muslims, as the case may be) to question or doubt their own beliefs. For the sake of knowledge and tolerance, we need to give others the opportunity to openly and constructively criticize our faith. It’s only natural. Even in our minds, Kareem did nothing wrong. We stand with him. Not just as Muslims, or as members of any other belief system, but as humans.