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!

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!

The following is a translation of an article that appeared today in the Egyptian Daily Almasry Alyoum:

ANHRI Requests Kareem’s Immediate Release from President Mubarak for Having Spent 3/4 of His Sentence

Wael Ali wrote on 16 October 2009

Yesterday, the Arab Network for Human Rights Information raised a plea to President Mubarak to issue instructions to the Minister of Interior to release blogger Kareem Amer, especially since the Ministry of Interior released officer Islam Nabih who was found guilty on charges of torture. The officer was not only released before completing three quarters of his time but was also allowed to report back to his work at the said Ministry.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Network assured that the Ministry of Interior revealed its intentions of depriving Kareem Amer – who has been in the prison of Burj Al-Arab for the past three years- of his right to be released after having served three quarters of his time, which is a legal right for all prisoners.

The statement reported that some officers at the Egyptian Prison Administration, which is part of the Ministry of Interior, informed the attorney of the Network’s Legal Support Unit for Freedom of Expression that the plea to release Kareem Amer, which was filed by the Network will not be accepted by the state’s Security Apparatus, and that the release decision should be issued from a higher authority – meaning the President of the Republic – in order to be accepted.

The statement also pointed out that Kareem Amer is entitled to his right to be released on the 5th of next November, when he completes his three-year sentence in prison, as part of the penalty of his imprisonment for a period of four years following investigations and court hearings pertaining to issues that Kareem published on his blog and on the civilized dialogue website [الحوار المتمدن].

The statement also pointed out that despite the fact that the Egyptian court of cessation will issue its decision regarding the plea – filed by Kareem Amer’s attorneys at the Arab Network for Human Rights Information on the 20th of last October, which all attorneys working in the field of defending freedom of expression in Egypt and around the world anticipate that this decision will clear things in the correct manner and order another hearing for Kareem – Amer’s right to be released after completing three quarters of his sentence shall prevail despite the court’s decision.

It also pointed out that at the time when the Arab Network received more than 600 letters and postcards from citizens in Egypt and around the world in support of Kareem, the state security apparatus in Egypt continues to harass Kareem in prison and deprive him of visits since last March, where Kareem suffered for a state of “prison within a prison.” [Many letters were sent via our letter campaign and the "Flood the Jail with Mail" initiative.]

As we noted a few weeks ago, today was Kareem’s final appeal. The decision of this appeal will be announced on the 20th of October. In the meantime Kareem will continue suffering in his jail cell while the Egyptian government visibily ignores all requests to release him.

This coming November, Kareem will have spent 80% of his sentence time and we are hoping that on the 20th of October they will officially announce his freedom. If not, it marks a new crime committed by the Egyptian government, which continues to abuse its powers at the expense of innocent individuals such as Kareem, whose only crime was practicing his right to freedom of speech on a personal blog.

Please contact your local Egyptian Embassies or Consulates and respectfully demand that Kareem’s release will be secured after years of intentional abuse.

An article that appeared in the Washington Post recently makes a brief mention of Kareem.

The U.N.’s New Censor:

Even if Mr. Hosni’s supporters succeed in cajoling or coercing pro-Israel groups to back their man, he would remain as suitable to lead Unesco as a Cairene cat would be to guard a stew. Try convincing jailed blogger Kareem Nabil Soliman, or blackballed satirist Ali Salem, or chronically harassed activist Wael Abbas, that Mr. Hosni’s brand of cultural preservation should be exported throughout the world.

Read the full article here.

The verdict on Kareem’s final appeal (previously reported here), which was expected today, was postponed by the judge considering the appeal to September 15th.
We will keep our readers updated when any new information comes in.

We have just been informed that the judge will report the decision tomorrow concerning Kareem’s case. This is still developing news and we will keep you updated on what happens, or what time the decision is set to be announced. In the meantime keep your hopes high for Kareem.

Later today (Monday) at 10am, Kareem’s final appeal will take place and Rawda Ahmed, his lawyer, will be there to hear the final decision.

We sincerely hope that the Egyptian government will do what they should have done over 3 years ago and conclude this tragedy by FREEING KAREEM.

Considering the amount of death threats Kareem has received both online and offline, his security will still be at risk and your support will be extremely crucial in keeping him safe regardless of the decision that takes place tomorrow morning.