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Tuesday, 7 Nov 2006
A lot of people are wondering why Abdel Karim was arrested for a second time , and the story is as follows: Remember when Abdel Karim got expelled for writing his seriously anti-islamic writings from Al Azhar University, the most prestigious islamic university in the world? Well, Al Azhar decided that they should make an example out of Abdel Karim and reproted him to the egyptian Persecuter office. which called him in for questioning twice. The first time they called him in, they asked him those questions:
"Do you pray?"
"What do you think of Islam?"
"What is your opinion of the Prophet? What about his peers?"
"What do you think of what's happening in Darfur?" (I am not kidding)
In essence, the whole investigation was a farce. And according to his lawyer, when they called Abdel Karim in for a second time yesterday, the farce continued:
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.
And as for the charges that he is getting investigated for:
- 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
Wow. Isn't this wow-worthy? This kid, with his little blog, is going to do all that? I don't know what's sadder, that the state decided to eprsecute him with those redicilously bullshit charges, or that those Charges actually exist in egyptian law.
Anyway…
Naturally those Charges are bullshit, and whether or not we agree with what Abdel Karim has to say, freedom of speech in an inalienable universal right that has to be respected. No one should go to jail for "spreading rumors" or "Highlighting inappropriate aspects that hard the reputation of Egypt", whatever that means. And the fact that Al Azhar University went this vindictive route after one of their students says volumes of what kind of people run the place now. The fact that they maliciously sought to get him imprisoned after they expelled him is beyond contemptable. Here is what the head of the arab organization for Human rights had to say on the topic:
"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".
I, naturally, agree!
Now, if you do agree with me, then please go here and sign the petition, and forward it to everyone you know. Upon filing it, those people get an e-mail from you, which will help increase pressure on them. Also, if you do have a blog, you can link to the Free Abdel Karim blog and put up the banners that we have made, here , and here . It will help spread the word.
We got him out once, we would do it again.
November 7th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
Well - their reaction is a sign of weakness! Freedom will prevail, fascist dogmatic religions will loose…
November 7th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
Here is a translation of his testemonial of the events of the “Alexandrian riots” that started it all.
It is a VERY POWERFUL testimony and eyewitness account of what happened that day and how it deeply affected him.
It’s hard to not want to embrace this man for his bravery and compassion!! I hope to God he’s freed real soon.
http://www.annaqed.com/english/under/expelled_from_al_azhar_for_exposing_the_truth.html
November 7th, 2006 at 6:57 pm
Sorry to go OT, but Sandmonkey, can you please approve the post I made in the “I Am Not a Monster” thread?
November 7th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/11/06/061106193551.sp4mpb0o.html
November 7th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
As an American, and I am over 50 years old, I have never fully appreicated basic freedoms until I started reading many of these blogs. Of course, I was well aware of tyranny etc., but this stuff, for some reason really brought it home.
Walked across the street today with my son to vote. It was early…but there were two people in line.
How easily we can take things for granted eh?
And remember, if there is change in the future, how quickly the oppressed become oppressors…ask just about any Iranian.
November 7th, 2006 at 8:02 pm
the case is now a front-page story:
http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3817
November 7th, 2006 at 8:10 pm
Screw petitions, get guns, organize and overthrow your government.
Sadly, you would end up as split as Lebanon, as each tribe or sect started playing all ends against the middle.
But seriously, we always hear about how arabs want to solve their own problems, well solve them!!!
November 7th, 2006 at 8:10 pm
“How easily we can take things for granted eh?”
Like pressing the ‘Submit Comment’ button on your computer screen, Howie?
I agree.
November 7th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
I particularly like the part about “spreading aspects that harm the reputation of Egypt”…
Yeah, like this arrest!!!!! :p
November 7th, 2006 at 8:28 pm
[...] Following is copied from sandmonkey.org [...]
November 7th, 2006 at 8:57 pm
Hello SM, have you seen that Egypt has been listed as one of the “enemies of the Internet”, in same league as Belarus, North Korea, Iran and Burma
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6124420.stm
November 8th, 2006 at 1:23 am
Signed the petition for this brave man and have forwarded it to everyone I know. Thanks, SM
November 8th, 2006 at 2:39 am
ditto
November 8th, 2006 at 7:44 am
I was not aware that praying was required by law in Egypt
November 8th, 2006 at 9:30 am
Sam,
I wish you also mention something about Maged Salamah, the Egyptian blogger that disappeared more than 3 months ago. His web site is http://www.democraticegypt.blogspot.com This is a Coptic man who was not the most politically correct person but that does not mean that he would be hurt. The last post he made was on July 31st in which he expressed his fury against Israel. In response, more than 55 responses were written inquiring about his disappearance
November 8th, 2006 at 10:39 am
We are with you Kareem and we hope you will be free soon.
November 8th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
yeah. So he can kill babies for Jesus?
Lets hope not.
November 8th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
Why do u want him to be free?
So he can kill more babies for Jesus?
Lets hope he stays in that jail cell. The Egyptian Government is doing the world a service.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
“Highlighting inappropriate aspects that hard the reputation of Egypt”
It is as if you publicly expressed the shit that is going on in Egypt.
Everybody knows about it, but no one is allowed to say it.
I think there should be a charge called “Not changing the inappropriate aspects that hard the reputation of Egypt and making it possible for people to highlight those”
That would be a nice charge…and i have a bunch of guys in mind that would perfectly fit into the dock for these charges…
November 8th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
“Spreading data and malicious rumors that disrupt public security
Defaming the President of Egypt
Incitement to overthrow the regime upon hatred and contempt
Highlighting inappropriate aspects that harm the reputation of Egypt and spreading them to the public”
There are a lot of people on the Right in the US who would like to see similar laws here, in the name of “Homeland Security”. That is truly scary.
November 8th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
[...] Check out Sandmonkey for more about Kareem’s case. [...]
November 9th, 2006 at 5:21 am
[...] Lots of thoughts on many things but no time to post about them. Did want to spread the word that Abdel Karim, a 22 year old Egyptian blogger, has been arrested and jailed for the second time by the Egyptian authorities for writing things in his blog that are critical of his government and critical of extremist aspects of Islam, as well as calling for democracy in Egypt. You can read more about it and find out what you can do to help get him released over at the Sandmonkey’s at this link. [...]
November 9th, 2006 at 6:14 am
*Abdel Karim, a 22 year old Egyptian blogger*
How weak, puny and petty the State Organ must be in order to feel the slightest bit threatened or even notice this kid!
November 9th, 2006 at 6:23 am
what is wrong with you people. I am sick of all this age discrminatiob. i am 19 and let me tell you, its us “kids” who are gonna rule the world!
November 9th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Yeah. I thought that when I was 19, too.
November 9th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
[...] Check out Sandmonkey for more about Kareem’s case. [...]
November 11th, 2006 at 4:42 am
I made the mistake once of supporting a Hezbollah Nazi you wanted to free from Jail: Alaa. Who is Kareem SM?
November 11th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
well, at least it gives ppl like you somthing to talk about
Hees Ba2a men hena lel-sob7 !
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:26 am
I also think that he is a very brave man who can stand up for his beliefs. If I could I would have supported him.
March 3rd, 2007 at 3:10 pm
[...] Original post by unknown and plugin by Elliott Back [...]