Interfaith Blogger Network Calls for Release of Imprisoned Egyptian Blogger
Below is a press release regarding Kareem and our ME Faith network:
US Congressmen Issue Demand to Release Abdel Kareem Soliman, Who Faces Nine Years in Jail for Blogposts on Egyptian Politics, Religious Tensions, and Women’s Rights
CAIRO - With Egyptian student Abdel Kareem Soliman about to go on trial for alleged crimes committed on his weblog, an international coalition of bloggers, activists, and political leaders is demanding respect for free expression in Egypt.
The Middle East Interfaith Blogger Network (www.mefaith.com), an alliance of diverse bloggers, is calling upon Egyptian authorities to drop charges against Soliman, who currently faces up to nine years in jail. His trial begins on Thursday.
“Kareem spoke his mind on his blog and did not hide his identity,” said Bahraini blogger Esra’a Al-Shafei, co-founder of the Interfaith Network. “Even though he was critical of Islam, I and the coalition’s other Muslim members respect his right to free speech. Jailing him for expressing his secular views is a sign of fear, not the action of an open society.”
Based solely on his blogposts, Soliman is charged with the alleged crimes of “defaming Egypt’s President, incitement to hate Islam, and highlighting inappropriate aspects that harm the reputation of Egypt.”
But members of the Interfaith Blogger Network argue that the decision to detain Soliman for the past 10 weeks without trial has severely harmed Egypt’s international reputation.
“Many international newspapers have all covered Kareem’s case,” noted network member Dalia Ziada in Cairo. “Millions of people are now aware that Egyptian authorities target bloggers simply for speaking their minds.” Over 2,000 people from around the world have signed the network’s petition demanding Kareem’s release.
In a dramatic development, members of Congress have today taken up Soliman’s case. Congressmen Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Barney Frank (D-MA) sent a letter to Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Fahmy demanding Soliman’s release and calling upon Egypt to respect freedom of expression or freedom of conscience.
Their letter states that the decision to arrest Soliman “simply for displeasure over writings on his personal weblog raises serious concern about the level of respect for these
freedoms in Egypt.”
Egyptian bloggers plan to pack the courthouse in Alexandria, Egypt, on Thursday, and millions of supporters around the world will be following the case via blogposts.
“We hope he will be acquitted,” remarked Al-Shafei, “But we are ready to act if he is convicted.”
Update - This is now available on the US Newswire.
Related article -
Congressman Franks Concerned by Lack of Freedom of Religion and Speech in Egypt
Does anybody have an online petition going???
Yeah, and over 2,000 people have signed it. It’s here.
Esra’a-
OK…here I am starting trouble again:
“In a dramatic development, members of Congress have today taken up Soliman’s case. Congressmen Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Barney Frank (D-MA) sent a letter to Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Fahmy demanding Soliman’s release and calling upon Egypt to respect freedom of expression or freedom of conscience.”
People many people in the world, certainly in the ME, are pissed at the USA. On certain areas…I can’t blame them and there is valid criticism…I have plenty of my own.
However…I think disengenuous or hypocrtical are too strong of words, but it sure seems like when it comes to rescue, advocacy for freedom, leadership in the fight for freedom, a haven for political refugees (and I have met them here in all shapes, sizes, colors, races and religions) and other related things, it is often the USA that people look to.
People often quote Tony Blair that you can often judge a country by how many people leave it and/or come to it. I don’t know too many refugees or immigrants that are fighting to swim BACK over the border.
So folks get upset about American arrogance…I term I hear over and over and over and yes…it is there…but where is arrogance lacking. For a country with our enormous power and influence…we have done a whole lot of decent stuff…
Oh yes Jina I know…Canada is the world leader in freedom advocacy and they sent zillions over to Sri Lanka etc. after the tsunami…give me a break. Canada is preoccupied with whether they should be speaking freakin French and clubbling poor little seals on the ice.
Actually Canada government sent about 400 million to the region while US only sent 950, Canada is 1/10th of the size of US. We did more than you, have fun.
I don’t know what decade you live in but you are about 30 years behind on our local news. Might want to update your information.
Wrong season to talk about this.
Are you freakin drunk? We are not even talking about any of these things yet you manage to bring in an irrelevant crap as usual. This is a fucking post about KAREEM.
Jina-
Ha Ha and my quote is right off the post about Kareem…
“you manage to bring in an irrelevant crap as usual.”
Untrue…that really hurts…
Hey…did you notice that only American teams are leading in the NBA the Canadian teams are doing poorly?
Oh…and Quebec was voting to secede only about what…6-8 years ago…not 30.
I must have missed something, can you point to where it says Canada any where?
You mean Canadian team. There is only 1 Canadian team in the NBA. Canada is not a basketball country. It’s like me laughing my ass off at the USofA for not even making it to the World Cup of Cricket when tiny little Sri Lanka can. Again what does this crap has to do with anything?
You were talking about language not Quebec independence.
I apologize in advance for the harshness of this comment. I just don’t like it when people make this about countries. Stop acting like tribes trying to compete with each other when we’re just humans trying to survive in this mad planet. It’s not about the U.S or Egypt or who did what and who came to its rescue. It’s about my friend in prison and us doing everything in our power to try and help him. And very often people bring up the fact that the U.S saves our ass in these cases which it doesn’t, the U.S-based activists who help us don’t speak for your government OR your nation so don’t make this about Americans.
And what are you gonna do if Kareem is freed which I certainly hope he will be? Shout “victory for America!”?
When Middle Easterners complain about U.S foreign policy, it’s for VERY good reason. Please take a look at what American ammunition did to many country’s environments. Ever heard of depleted uranium during the Gulf War which left hundreds of thousands with cancer and birth deficiencies? Ever heard of embedded journalists in Iraq trying to keep the truth away from the public? Ever heard of 1984 the year Rumsfeld expressed America’s full support for the Iraqi regime?
Yeah. Now tell me the U.S saves our ass. Especially when it comes to our activists. Maybe I should do a campaign for the innocent civilians currently locked up illegally in Guantanamo Bay? Many Egyptians are there, as well as some Bahrainis who spent up to 5 years there if not more. So usually when the U.S saves our asses, it’s only after grilling them.
Maybe I took your comment way too far and put extra words in your mouth leading me to misunderstand your main point, but my argument, if directed against the right people, still stands.
But seriously if you wanna talk about hypocrisies… talk about the political refugees who left their countries due to U.S-funded dictators.
The U.S is not my example of pure freedom and democracy. Let’s just leave it at that. Yeah it’s a great country with many advantages but come on man… it made some huge mistakes which left millions in the region either troubled or dead.
Now, about Kareem. His trial is today and I’m checking my e-mail and phone obsessively for the news to come. Fingers crossed. I just hope it won’t be as bad as most expect it to be.
Jina-
“USofA for not even making it to the World Cup of Cricket when tiny little Sri Lanka can.”
Allow me to congratulate you and your countrymen on their achievment.
I hope you’re not being sarcastic Howie. Because they really kick ass at cricket.
I am a Canadian not Sri Lankan.
Jina-
“I am a Canadian not Sri Lankan.”
Sorry aboot that.
I still don’t get it, I have yet to meet a Canadian who speak like that. Let me know when you find one. Video tape it, record it whatever, just entertain me.
Are you serious? Have you never seen the proof? Like South Park, The Movie or Canandian Bacon? Never watched hockey guys interviewed?
Oh here…soarie…I apologize…I am soarie…soarie aboot it is all. Eeeey?
http://johnaugust.com/archives/2005/about-a-boot
And here I was seeing 14+ comments hoping it was a debate actually related to the title.
I’m actually surprised that there aren’t many discussions here happening about Kareem…
I should update by noting that he’s been doing much better thanks to international coverage and the amount of people present to fight for his cause.
Sam-
“And here I was seeing 14+ comments hoping it was a debate actually related to the title.”
I don’t think there is a single thing to “debate”…what people should be doing is advocating and taking action…which many here do…
Teasing Jina…well that I consider holy work…
I will crush you.
Jina-
Actually…a good part of my family are Toronto Canadians…