I condemn Abdel Kareem Suleiman’s four year sentence and agree for a campaign for his release from Egytian jail.

In Egypt the secular liberal opposition is very weak and the Muslim Brotherhood very strong.The Islamist slogan in Algeria in 1990’s was “one man, one vote, one time.” ONE TIME.Which means dictatorship after the election.And the election where the Islamist won caused a civil war killing hundreds of thousands of Algerians

As Fatemah Farag wrote in AL-AHRAM :The losses have been staggering: all the leading figures of the left-leaning Tagammu Party lost their seats, including political veteran and former Free Officer Khaled Mohieddin in Kafr Shukr in Qalyoubiya, long-standing MP for Port Said El-Badri Farghali and labour representative Abul- Ezz El-Hariri, who failed to win in the Alexandria constituency of Karmouz. The Nasserites have yet to win a seat and only four members of the Wafd have been returned to parliament, leaving leading members such as Munir Fakhry Abdel-Nour out in the cold. The independent left is looking at a big fat zero.
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/771/eg9.htm

Now if the alternative to Mubarak or his National Democratic Party in a truly democratic election is the Muslim Brotherhood – what is the solution for a liberal Arab like yourself if you lived in that situation?

Maybe someone could initiate a seperate blog entry on this topic?

Salam ya 3ajeeba!

The Free Kareem campaign is now one of the largest campaigns made to free a blogger in history, and we are proud of this achievement and will only make sure that the case remains news-worthy for as long as he will be in prison. The Free Kareem coalition is blessed with a talented and determined team who are willing to do a lot to achieve the most that we are all capable of.

Kareen obviously represents a modern point of view. And the people who felt offended represent a traditonal point of view.

Even if you think it’s not surprising that he got 3 years for his stance against Islam, HE GOT ONE YEAR FOR INSULTING THE PRESIDENT! Yes! I find that surprising and downright cruel! Whether or not I or anyone else find it surprising is actually none of anyone’s business, the fact is that it happened and will continue to happen for as long as people find it “not so surprising” and “predictable.”

It’s so easy to dismiss this case at the comfort of your home, claiming that there’s nothing to be done about it (and not by the likes of us anyways,) but my friend is in prison right now for having and expressing his opinion. He is suffering in prison right now because he felt the urge to continue expressing such opinions despite the threats, risks, and dire consequences that came with it. He did it for the sake of progress in the region, and in the name of freedom of speech. I will not allow anyone to justify this and claim that we’re fighting a lost cause. Kareem deserves to be fought for, and he will be fought for. I will not tolerate statements made against him at this point, claiming that “he asked for it.” No matter what his approach was, at the end of the day it was his opinions that put him in that jail cell – NOT his “crimes,” since he never committed any.

Really, can you be surprised they came down on him? You read more of his postings and comments to commenters than I did. WERE YOU surprised they paid attention to his barbs?

“3 years for his stance against Islam and 1 year for ‘defaming the President’” .this disproportion of religion power versus state power in a relation of 75 % to 25 % is deeply concerning & terrifying & shows that no common sense or rationality were used in Kareem’s trial. – the dark ages here in Europe were ruled by barbaric un-christian church rules & we’re glad here that these dark times of cruel dark religion ruling over humanity & common sense are over since long times – hmm but apparently not yet in ‘back again’ to dark mediavial Egypt & similar countries –
Recently I read in Israellicool’s page about a 18 year old young man who made a (typical unaware youth) remark – who got sentenced for years in prison & later on to death penality – see here: http://www.israellycool.com/blog/_archives/2007/2/3/2706219.html

.. – I hope we can do something in support of his miserable situation now & thank you Esra’a so much for your fight for Kareem’s freedom – the next step is to support him..

& by the way ‘Grant Thomas’ what you tell has as much to do with christian true belief, like catholic inquisition & crusaderdom, like Jihadist & all those other religion misusing zealots who cover their intentions for mischief with a hypocrytical coat of self-righteousness & aggression against disbelievers – there’s nothing in the origin words of christianity which could justify that – & didn’t say Jesus in his mountain sermon “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land” – .- you see Grant Thomas, your words have nothing to do with christianity..(well maybe try to be meek, to get in closer contact with your imagined religion..)

Keep it up