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Tuesday, 15 Aug 2006
….for defaming the country's reputation by writing about the harrasment and persecution of christians in Egypt. Nice huh?
Reporters Without Borders today condemned the months of harassment by
the authorities in Qina (near Luxor, in central Egypt) that forced Hala Helmy Botros to close down her blog Aqbat Bela Hodood
(Copts Without Borders) about the persecution of the Christian Coptic
minority, and to stop writing on this subject for other websites.Botros, 42, who wrote under the
pseudonym of Hala El-Masry, is now the target of a judicial
investigation and is banned from leaving the country.
Her Father was attacked..
In articles,
interviews and video reports online, Botros had accused the political
authorities and police of complicity in the attacks against Copts on 19
January when they tried to restore their church in the village of
Edyssat (near Luxor). Houses were burned and the church was destroyed
in the course of this violence, in which two Copts were killed and
several others injured.Her posts clearly irritated the
authorities as first her phone line was cut and then her Internet
connection, forcing her to go to her father’s house to continue
posting. The authorities also placed her under surveillance. One night,
her father was beaten by two strangers who told him, “This is a present
from your daughter.”
The Police of course didn't help…
When he went to the police station to
report this, the police got him to sign a blank sheet to which they
added a statement in which he appeared to accuse her of being
responsible for the attack. Botros reacted by filing a complaint
against the police officer concerned, Mahmoud Sabri, accusing him of
bringing false charges, but the case was not pursued by the authorities.
And she got banned from leaving the country…
On 15 June, she tried to fly to the United
States to attend a conference about the Copts in Newark, New Jersey,
but the authorities removed her from the airplane before it took off,
on the grounds that she was banned from the leaving the country. She
was questioned for several hours at the airport and ordered to report
to a state security court in Cairo on 25 June.
and her house raided and was taken to court…
Security agents
raided her home on the night of 22 June with the apparent intention of
arresting her, but she was in Cairo at the time. Her husband was forced
to go with them and to sign a statement guaranteeing that she would
report to the court three days later.Botros went to the court with two
lawyers, Mamdouh Ramzy and Naguib Gobraeil, on 25 June. She was
questioned about her Internet posts and accused of “spreading false
news” and of “disrupting social harmony between the Muslim and
Christian communities.” She was released the same day after paying
3,000 Egyptian pounds (400 euros) in bail, but was questioned again the
next day.
So she finally gave in and shut down her blog.
So, is it safe to say that any of us-egyptian bloggers- could be next?
Related:
August 15th, 2006 at 8:36 am
This is seriously scary. Ok, guys can we mount a campaign on her behalf like we did for Alaa and the others? C’mon!
August 15th, 2006 at 9:01 am
SM, dont you fear on them harrassing you for posting this? I dont want them to shut this blog as well!
August 15th, 2006 at 9:03 am
This is why authoritative governments kick ass!
Hear no evil, see no evil. If no one is allowed to talk about it, evil doesn’t exist.
August 15th, 2006 at 9:19 am
Nasty!
Maybe I’ll write a little letter to the editor of one of the popular free newspapers that everyone up here reads… If nothing else it’ll provide a bit of embarrasment for the Egyptian embassy.
August 15th, 2006 at 10:10 am
Wow, scary. And I have to agree with Yael. A campaign should be mounted on her behalf!
August 15th, 2006 at 10:23 am
Christian Egyptian Blogger Investigated For ‘Defaming The Country’s Reputation?
She is being watched by plain-clothes police, her telephone is tapped and her e-mail is being monitored.
August 15th, 2006 at 10:43 am
I photoshopped a picture for Hala. I hope that this gets the attention it deserves!
http://syncboard.com/albums/Randomness/Justice.jpg
August 15th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
And idiots complain of no freedom of speech and a police state in Australia while shouting it out at Uni protests, lectures, parks, while doing the shopping, etc…
Then people like you, BP and Hala have the guts to speak out when there is real danger. You lot are great and I pray that Hala and her family are ok. Hopefully soon all Egypts can speak freely without fear.
August 15th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
Do I have the new password for your site? you should have given it to me before you went to your conference, so at least I inform your Rabbi Jihadi club
and make my calls to get your Egyptian butt out of prison.
Ya Khofi ya badran.
Yael,
If the Rabbi Jihadi club starts a campagin the girl will never be out of trouble please don’t do so. Let Alaa and others do it.
August 15th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
Egypt is so 20th century.
August 15th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
This is very amusing. Seriously, it is. The people that are “defaming” Egypt’s image are people like the ones harassing that blogger. And I wrote “defaming” the way I did because to be completely honest, they aren’t defaming jack shit, they are proving what many of us already knew (that Copts have no rights in their own country - at least this woman wasn’t kidnapped and married off to some Muslim with the police turning a blind eye -, and that in regards to tolerance Egypt needs to go a long way).
The good think about a working toilet is that you can always flush it. And that is what people like you and BP do when you guys report on shit like this - you are cleaning your country’s image. That’s what some morons will never understand.
August 15th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
“Rabbi Jihadi club.”
Now I know that Tworeset has gone mad, at least if he is referring to me, an open atheist.
August 15th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
11. alex:
Sorry, but I don’t quite understand your post… Who are you ranting over? Someone who posted here?
August 15th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
And since when does only one group get to cry foul? Only Alaa and others have a right to comment? That makes sense…how? Shouldn’t as many people as possible comment on this? No one was complaining when Israeli bloggers were highlighting Alaa’s plight. (how ironic, huh, that Israeli bloggers were part of the blogosphere that came to his aid)
Isn’t the goal to get the story out to as many people as possible?
Or could it be, Tworeset, that you don’t want this story widely disseminated? Best to keep this in the family, and not let anyone see the ugly side of things, huh?
But if it’s a Muslim blogger that’s in trouble, then the world should come to the aid of that blogger.
Right, gotcha.
August 15th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Red Tulip,
I didn’t refer to you, don’t know you and never read you before.
“Or could it be, Tworeset, that you don’t want this story widely disseminated? Best to keep this in the family, and not let anyone see the ugly side of things, huh?”
WOW amazing discovery
and where in my post did I say that?
August 15th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
My post for some reason came up under a different name, Is this is a glitch?, I’m not accusing anyone so people won’t go crazy and call human rights watch, it happened before I’m just wondering that is all!!!!
*correction the above comment was my post*
August 15th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Twosret,
I was about to post something and can’t see my post. It is alright. No problem.
August 15th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
Twosret:
Let me quote you…
“If the Rabbi Jihadi club starts a campagin the girl will never be out of trouble please don’t do so. Let Alaa and others do it.”
This was in response to Yael’s post stating:
“This is seriously scary. Ok, guys can we mount a campaign on her behalf like we did for Alaa and the others? C’mon!”
Nowhere in there did it mention religious Jews. Yet you insert “rabbi jihadi club.” Your post also came after I made up the image and linked it on Sandmonkey’s site, so I assumed you were referring to me, even though now I see you were not.
This story should be widely disseminated and NOT kept in the family, even if that’s what you would want, which you seem to, based on your words.
August 15th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
Red Tulips,
Let me clairfy, this story should never remain hidden, we need to help her and I feel horrible for the incident, it only goes to show how dictatorship can be oppressing.
I believe that it will harm her more if Israelis, Zionists that are regular to this blog will lead the campaign( I wasn’t talking about you), it is a general comment. If this case is showing anything it shows discrimination that should be fought, imagine if Israelis or Zionists try to help, it will make things worse and she will be doomed to hell and imprisoned for the rest of her life. Yup that is how it works in Egypt despite the so called peace between the two countries.
My comment to SM about the Rabbi Jihadi club was a joke about the nature of some posters here and wasn’t directed to you or to this topic. I always tease him about how many Zionists, Jews, Israelis that posts here.
I hope this explains, thanks for discussing instead of insulting
August 15th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
Right on Red Tulips!!!!
Shouldn’t the Egyptian blogoshphere come to her defense like they did for Alaa?? Abso-f’n-lutely!
Everyone should post this one their blogs!
August 15th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
Sure Egypeter we should but please read my post #19 and tell me if my opinion makes sense to you?
August 15th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Twosret:
And yet I didn’t see you or anyone cry foul when Israeli bloggers came to Alaa’s defense. I didn’t see Alaa cry foul about Israel when Israeli and Zionist bloggers came to his defense - which they did.
So, let me get this straight…Israelis and Zionists helping a Muslim - that’s okay.
Israelis and Zionists helping a Coptic Christian - not okay.
Where is the logic there, again???
August 15th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Two - you are probably right re #19. May I suggest you stop and reread your own post and understand the implications of what you wrote. I say this in the light of some of the things you have posted in the last couple of days. You might understand just how deep and how prevalent the anti-semitic prejudice is that you fear (probably correctly) for someone’s wellbeing in the event that a Jew or an Israeli might express concern for them. If you keep that in mind when you research other subjects it might help be a bit more discriminating (in the intellectual sense).
Hey, I forgot, we control the media, so actually you do need us onboard.
August 15th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Red Tulips,
I wasn’t aware of Israeli bloggers helping Alaa I wasn’t involved and was in the middle of moving.
I think you are assuming too much. I think I’m very clear about this specific topic.
Reality,
Please provide specific examples and I will be more than glad to explain. I would like to keep this one in support of the lady.
August 15th, 2006 at 5:44 pm
Lets keep this one on the mark. We can cross swords at another opportunity. Anyway have to go. Have a good one.
August 15th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Egypeter, alaa got out mainly because his mom is this big wig prof. in egypt and his aunt just happens to be an internationally known writer (Ahdaf Soueif), who im sure numbers loads of hacks as her friends which resulted in alaa’s case being freatured on CNN etc etc etc…
August 15th, 2006 at 5:57 pm
Clear, where have you been?
Reality, thank you my lord.
August 15th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Hey Two -
I think you probably have a point. But I’m not talking about just Israeli’s sticking up for her…I’m talking about Egyptian Muslims in the blogoshphere sticking up for her. Any freedom-loving blogger in Egypt should post about this because, HELL, THEY MAY BE NEXT! We’re all in this together, right?
Clear - I didn’t know all that about Alaa’s family. Here’s to hoping that the Mukhabaraat leave her and her family alone.
Egypt’s ass-backwardness drives me CRAZY sometimes!!
August 15th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
hey sweeetie, i’m right where you left me…by the molokhia trough!
just tellin egypeter that it’s all about who you know, ain’t it twosret
August 15th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
clear - That’s the “ass-backwardness” in Egypt that I’m talking about. I really hope she’s able to resume blogging without worrying about her or her family.
And are you gonna horde all of the molokhaya to yourself? Share a little, I’m starving!
August 15th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
[...] Did you get that? If you think the Muslim Brotherhood wants to impose a theocracy it’s because you don’t understand Islam. And because you don’t understand Islam, the group explains Islam is a complete way of life that includes government based under Sharia. They skirt the issue by citing the Egyptian constitution calls for Sharia therefore their argument is that since Sharia is accepted by Egypt, they can call for it. Meanwhile Egypt has rounded up a Coptic blogger for shedding light upon harassment, therefore by extension of the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance that what is within the Egyptian constitution is correct, they agree with this arrest. I have absolutely no intention of linking or discussing the MB in a positive light no matter how much the group claims they have changed. They haven’t changed philosophies and, as we saw one week ago, they haven’t changed having secret militant wings either. That has been the bedrock of the group since it formed in the early 20th Century. [...]
August 15th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/19111- letter sent by his aunt to NY books review
this article puts it aptly:
Beyond having the blogging and human rights groups on his side, Alaa also has a strong family to lean on. His father, Ahmed Seif Al Islam, is a well known activist and lawyer at the Hisham Mubarak Law Center in Cairo, while his mother Laila Suief is an activist and science professor at Cairo University.
http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2006/05/digging_deeperblogs_wiki_googl.html
August 15th, 2006 at 6:27 pm
assbackwardness is everywhere, there’s just more of it in Egypt.
sure….tips molokhia trough all over egypeter….now was that rice or bread you wanted with that?
August 15th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Guys sorry I have to rush out and will be back later.
This message is for Yael and Red Tulip,
I would like you guys to start a campaign for Bishop Riah, The Epsicopal Diocese of Jerusalem needs your help, they have similar situation to the lady above. Wouldn’t it be more effective for Red Tulip to fight discrimation of Christians in Israel?
Bishop Riah was deprieved from his basic human rights, I will be more than happy to give you more links to other christians and priests that suffers discrimination in Israel
http://www.j-diocese.com/DiocesanNews/view.asp?selected=236#slbl236
August 15th, 2006 at 6:32 pm
roz
August 15th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
34. Twosret:
Well, I wouldn’t mind speaking up for the guy, but since he (to my knowledge - I haven’t been to Israel) lives in a civil society with clear and nondiscriminatory laws, he should be quite capable of bringing the case to court and be compensated for any wrongs commited against him.Also, I’m sure he has lots of sympathisers at home who won’t be afraid to speak up for him either…
Just my opinion/guess, though - I may be wrong.
August 15th, 2006 at 9:05 pm
Clear and Egypeter, I’m starving too but too tired to make Molokhia sorry try tomorrow
and yes Roz rules when it comes to Molokhia.
Adam,
Based on the situation and number of Palestinian children and women in the Israeli prisons, I’m not buying that Israel is a civil society not to mention the occupation. It will be nice to see you guys working for Bishop Riah and others.
August 15th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
“Based on the situation and number of Palestinian children and women in the Israeli prisons, I’m not buying that Israel is a civil society not to mention the occupation.”
So, you’re just saying that all the people in Israeli prisons didn’t stand trial and were denied due process, then? I’m guessing you think that the occupation also makes all due process null and void in greater Israel. Pretty thin logic.
I mean, the Israelis are paying taxes to keep them in these prisons. If they’re just so uncivilized, why not just slaughter them and save themselves the headache - like the Palestinians do when they get their hands on an Israeli. But Israel doesn’t do that, does it? You’re just grasping at straws aren’t you?
You know what country surely doesn’t have due process for its citizens? Egypt.
I’m sure that Bishop Riah was treated poorly and it is utterly unacceptable. But he’s going to sue and, thus, he has recourse. Unlike Hala. No family member was beaten or dragged to the police station, no policeman falsified documents and his house wasn’t ransacked. So, Twosret, I’m sure you’ll forgive me if I worry about Hala much much more and will choose to spend my limited energy on her first.
If the good Bishop is roughed up like this woman, I assure you I’ll be the first in line on his behalf. But until then….
Just admit it. Your post was motivated not by concern for a wronged man who has the protection of the law and undboutedy already filed suit but by your deep hatred if Israel.
signed,
The chief Rebbi of The Rabbi Jihadi Club
August 15th, 2006 at 10:21 pm
Chief Rabbi of the Rabbi Jihadi Club,
Point noted and you are herby authorized to spend your time on conspiracy theories on other topics
August 15th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
Oh, dearest twosret! But what I put forth is not a conspiracy theory.
One must conspire with someone to have a conspiracy. One must have an objective, a plot. You have none of those things.
You merely have prejudice, bias and hatred in your heart for certain groups of people. You paint everyone in a certain population with the same brush. It’s not quiet as bad as a plot but it rots the soul.
- The Rabbi Jihadi Club
August 15th, 2006 at 10:36 pm
“Sorry, but I don’t quite understand your post… Who are you ranting over? Someone who posted here?”
I am ranting over the fact that bloggers that tell the truth don’t screw up a country’s image. People that harass bloggers and journalists screw up a country and its image. Your house will still be dirty even if you sweep the dirt just to hide it beneath the carpet.
That was what I meant.
August 15th, 2006 at 10:37 pm
You didn’t get what I said, but that is okay this is the same reason why you write what you write. When did you check your eye sight last? or should I say IQ?
Play with your paint and brush with someone else skippy.
August 15th, 2006 at 11:27 pm
“when did you check your eye sight last? or should I say IQ?”
aahh….
The personal attacks.
And you question others about fairness.
Your true colors showing again….
August 16th, 2006 at 12:32 am
Twosret:
I do not see how Rt. Rev. Riah H. Abu El-Assal is even nearly as bad as Hala’s. He couldn’t get on a plane. Not the same as being silenced and having his life threatened.
But that said, I am posting it on my site. I don’t see it as on the same galaxy as bad. And it’s sad that you do.
August 16th, 2006 at 1:05 am
Guys, of course she does. It’s a “golden” example for her to equate Israeli government with a corrupt authortarian Arab government. Don’t hurt that he’s christian. The day she comes on here seeking support for an “oppressed” Jew (zionist or not), particularily one oppressed by a Christian or Muslim, then we can take her as losing her bias.
August 16th, 2006 at 1:15 am
Red Tulips,
Thanks for posting, I wasn’t trying to equate it. I just thought since you advocate for the lady above, maybe you can also help in his case.
Too bad you took it as a challange, when it wasn’t meant to be that way.
Appreciate it.
August 16th, 2006 at 2:00 am
Jason you are a mess
August 16th, 2006 at 2:43 am
Still waiting on just once you seeing the “Jew/Israeli” as a victim scenario …
and no, not some lunatic fringe type. From any fringe.
August 16th, 2006 at 3:08 am
fridge did you say fridge? yeah I’m hungry
August 16th, 2006 at 4:21 am
It’s interesting, reading his - well, whatever it is, the thing we were linked to. He couldn’t fly based on his refusal to speak any language other than Arabic. While I agree that was unfair, and he certainly has every right to sue about it, and if his account is true he deserves to win his suit, it does speak yet again to the issue that has Arabs and the western world at loggerheads more than any other: honor. Of course, he has every right to conduct his business in whatever language he choses. Yet, presuming that he speaks either hebrew or english - the other two official languages or Israel - he would have been better off had he tried to speak either of them.
He had a choice between pursuing his self-interest (at minimal risk of his honor) or pursuing his honor (at somewhat greater risk of his self-interest). He chose honor. To the Arab or Muslim mind, maybe that makes sense. To the western mind, it makes little or no sense, and the consequent “harm”, and the obligatory complaining about it come off as being at least substantially of his own causing.
Don’t get me wrong, the security agents - assuming his account was correct - were graceless cads. But so was he.
The paragon of virtue I am not, but still when I encounter someone who speaks a different language (which happens quite often), I always make a feeble attempt to communicate in their language. Is it a dishonor of myself? Uh, maybe. I never thought of it that way. I always thought it a little graceful to try to honor someone else by speaking their language, even if its only an apology for not speaking their language, expressed in their language.
Grace. The anti-honor. Methinks the Arab and Israeli worlds could use a little more of it.
August 16th, 2006 at 4:59 am
41. alex:
Ahh, then I took your words the wrong way - so sorry!
I agree with you completely, although I doubt the egyptian authorities sees the problem the same way… inded, I doubnt the egyptian government sees the same problem, period!
August 16th, 2006 at 5:44 am
This is really disgusting
August 16th, 2006 at 10:44 am
I am sorry, I know it is sad, however I should confess this weird histerical chuckle. Have you ever heard of the country called USSR? The dead one, the one that used to supply you with weapons? The story is absolutely _Soviet_ - you can trust me, I lived there, done that. Absolutely regular “Sovok”, practically identical, only with Internet. Guys, I am not loughing at you, I feel for you, I know how crappy that is. I lough at those people who celebrated the end of the Cold War a bit too early.
August 16th, 2006 at 2:20 pm
You guys and girls would stand around a burning house arguing about who has the right to haul at the well. Twosret makes a comment that might be sage advice or an a stab at turning this into a side issue and you all start brushing off your pride and getting uppity. Meanwhile this woman is still in being persecuted. Maybe a little solidarity? i thought those who came here were the ones who wanted to talk not fight.
If this woman truly has no weight to throw about and get some fair treatment, do any of you on her behalf?
August 16th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
Terry,
привет! I too crawled out of the soviet cesspool (I gather from your post that you’re russian). I know exactly what you mean. Unfortunately, the leaders of the soviet cesspool exported our terribly “enlightened” soviet ideas to Nasser, at his request and - presto! - welcome to soviet justice, Hala. I talk to my Russian family and I talk to my Egyptian family and it’s as if they’re living in the same country.
BrooklynJon,
I see what you’re saying about giving a little. That may have made things immediately easier for the bishop (assuming his account is accurate - which I do). However, he spoke one of the two official languages. In addition, he is under no obligation to bend to the whim and will of a minor authority at the airport.
However, because Israel has rule of law and all citizens are equal in the eyes of the law (and I give Israel the benefit of the doubt, as I give the bishop), the bishop has the option to file a complaint AND sue. This recourse is provided to him under Israeli law. At this point his dignity has been bruised and I feel terrible for him because it must have been an awful experience, but he still has recourse and protection under the law. What would twosret have us do in his case? Demand he be given the right to speak freely? He clearly has that. Demand legal recourse? He already has that. Demand that the Israeli government not initmidate him and threaten the life of himself and his family? He never claimed that. At this point, there is nothing to do but to beat our chests and wail. uselessly.
However, Hala’s situation is entirely different. First of all, unlike the Bishop, Hala’s life and the life of her family is threatened. She is denied free speach (which I consider an inalianable right) AND due process by the government itself. As far as I know - correct me if I’m wrong - she has no legal recourse. In fact, this illustrates the risks that all Egyptian bloggers take - not just Christian bloggers. This is a travesty. Nobody should live in fear that their basic human rights are taken away from them by the government system itself.
Both cases are reprehensible but the two cases are in no way equivalent. Not because one is happening to a minority in an Arab country and the other in Israel but because one person has no recourse and no protection under the law and the other does. I can only assume some of the Arabs here don’t see that because of some misguided loyalty to the Arab image. If that is the case, this is a mistake. If people are not honest about Mubarak’s repression of Egyptians, people are destined to live under the dictator’s thumb forever. And that only hurts Egyptians.
I think the subject of the unfortunate bishop was brought up as a tit-for-tat tactic to distract from the wrongs of an Arab regime and for no other reason.
August 16th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Canicula,
You make a good point. I read your post after I posted, though. I’m not sure that it’s a pride issue. I gather some people are taking it as a useless diversion - at least I did.. Look how quickly we turned away from talking about what to do for Hala?
“If this woman truly has no weight to throw about and get some fair treatment, do any of you on her behalf?”
Thank you. For that brings us back to the point. I think we can. I think we can bring it to the attention of enough large News outlets that it becomes an embarrassment for the Egyptian government. You know how autocrats HATE to be embarrassed. Several notable Russian dissidents were freed as a result of just such actions. This tactic has worked in Iran and in Egypt before. I also think the fear of further embarrassment will make the government think twice about repeating such actions with other bloggers and journalists.
August 16th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
A letter was sent to H. H. Pope Shenouda III yesterday and to be given in person next week. Coptic Orthodox Diocese of southern United States, His Grace Bishop Yousef,was copied on the letter and mailed Yesterday. The American Coptic Assoc. The coptic Chapter, The coptic voice of the nile etc…. all were contacted for action of support. Human rights organizations were contacted and is aware of the situation.
So Canicula, what were you saying?
August 16th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
I was saying that everyone seemed to be arguing about everything other than the point of the article. You think i was wrong?
You want to start on me because I wasn’t picking a fight with you, be my guest.
August 16th, 2006 at 3:55 pm
Canicula,
you are forgiven, go and sin no more my child
August 16th, 2006 at 4:24 pm
Thank you maman
August 16th, 2006 at 5:04 pm
my webzine http://www.strudeltimes.it would be glad to host Hala (English) .
g
August 16th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
Why hasn’t pope Shenouda said anything? Where is the man of God when you need him? Getting a check up in a private german clinic at the congregation’s expense maybe?
August 16th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Clear,
That was absolutely disrespectful to the H. H. Pope Shenouda, what has he done really to anyone to dserve your harsh words, seriously that was not nice at all.
did someone hijack your name again clear?
August 16th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Hey all:
I have started a letter writing campaign for Hala Botros. Please join with me in this.
http://cultureforall.blogspot.com/2006/08/what-you-can-do-for-hala.html
August 16th, 2006 at 11:50 pm
[...] SANDMONKEY: “Christian Egyptian blogger investigated by authorities …for defaming the country’s reputation by writing about the harrasment and persecution of christians in Egypt. Nice huh?” …. (sandmonkey) [...]
August 17th, 2006 at 3:21 am
we’re planning a campaign but waiting till we meet her and her lawyers.
August 17th, 2006 at 8:03 am
Thanks Alaa, keep us posted please.
August 17th, 2006 at 8:18 am
Have tried to locate a contact address for the Egyptian consulate in the UK to send the letter Red Tulips kindly wrote.
Ironically my work machine wont access their contact webpage as it tries to install spyware on my machine.
Boy did i laugh.
August 17th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
I’m contacting the NY Times and the Wall Street Journal today.
Also, isn’t this right up Amnesty International’s ally?
August 17th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
69. anonon:
I’m afraid not - they’re too busy fighting for the rights of the prisoners at Guantanamo to do anything about, say, the tens of thousands of prisoners being tortured in dictatorial China every year.
Don’t get me wrong - I think the Guantanamo prisoners should be tried and sentenced/released as soon as possible, but maybe, just maybe, there are worse issues to be dealt with in this world. Unfortunately, Amnesty International doesn’t seem to think so… IMO.
August 17th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
When I read how all you bloggers unite together in defense of others it gives me chills!!
It also reminds me on how powerful a force the blogosphere is.
Red Tulips, Alaa, anonon…all you guys are awesome!! God bless your efforts.
I will also do my part in this.
Clear - I think your comments on Pope Shenouda were a little harsh. Pope Shenouda might have one of the most difficult jobs in the world trying to protect his flock in Egypt. This should be an issue that the Egyptian people rally behind. The Pope has countless other issues that may be more pressing than a person’s blog being shut down…
For example, the murder of an Egyptian soldier for refusing to convert to Islam… http://www.freecopts.net/english/content/view/268/9/
August 17th, 2006 at 9:08 pm
Adam,
#70
Oh! *slaps forehead* that’s right! I don’t know WHAT I was thinking even suggesting it.
Guantanimo factoid: If you don’t know already, Putin pretty much hates the US for calling him out on his faux democracy. Russian TV stations are all state controlled. Against this backdrop… I was watching Russian news (from Moscow) on New York’s Russian language TV station when a story came on about a letter written by a Guantanimo inmate to his mother. Cut to footage of the mother sitting in the impoverished squalor of her “isba” reading the letter to the camera. The son was writing in great detail about prison life… how good the food was, how much they gave them to eat, how clean the bed sheets were, how much better it was than “back home” and how odd he found that for a prison. I laughed myself to tears. This is not to say that I’m saying they should remain in Guantanimo indefinitely, and so on and so forth, but it was just such a contrast to western media outlets (which don’t have actual contact with the prisoners).
Egypter,
You’re really awesome too. I saw your links on Big Pharaoh’s blog and read the story about the soldier there. It’s a travesty that we can count on absolutely no real investigation into his brutal murder. I’m sure they will conclude that he was murdered by a blood-thirsty “Zionist” without so much as leaving the police station. And according to my sister-in-law there are NO tensions between Muslims and Copts. It’s all peace and harmony over there. She works as an editor for a media organization in Cairo and I’m always shocked by what she doesn’t know. Boy, Hosni’s Stalinist State really knows how to work the magic of suppression, spin and outright lies. No wonder Egyptians can’t wrap their minds around America’s free press.
grrrrrr….sorry…rant over now.
Thanks for the link. This story too needs to make it to the international press and all over the blogasphere.
August 17th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
annon -
“And according to my sister-in-law there are NO tensions between Muslims and Copts. It’s all peace and harmony over there. ”
It’s not just your sister-in-law. It’s a large segment of the Egyptian muslims in Egypt that have this problem. I can’t tell you how many times I run into Egyptian Muslims on the internet that CONSISTENTLY deny that there are any problems…it’s SO SO frustrating!! No matter how many Hate Crimes are committed against Copts..there still is no problem. It drives me crazy. How can you even BEGIN to solve the problem if you’re not willing to even admit that there is one?!?
You ask the oppressors and they say there is no problem, you ask the oppressed and they say there IS a problem…hmmm, who would you believe?
August 18th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Egypter,
I absolutely know that it’s not just my sister-in-law but I am more shocked that she doesn’t know because she is an EDITOR at a NEWS outfit! You know how it is with the press in the US - they’re like bloodhounds and they’ll jump on any obscure story they can get their teeth into. Not in Egypt.
Here’s the thing too: sister-in-law didn’t grow up in Egypt and she’s not infected with the “we can do no wrong” diseases. She would stand up for the Copts if she thought there were a problem. She just honestly doesn’t know. It’s insanely frustrating.
Something you might be interested in: I’ve just found this blog through a link from BP’s blog - michaeltotten.com. In December of 2005 he met Big Pharaoh in Cairo and had a compelling conversation I think you might find interesting. Here’s the link. Scroll down to December 19th.
/www.michaeltotten.com/archives/2005_12.html