Trial of Egyptian Blogger Expands Realm of Repression
Amnesty International today called for the immediate and unconditional release of Karim Amer, thefirst Egyptian blogger to be tried for writing blogs criticizing Egypt'sal-Azhar religious authorities, President Husni Mubarak and Islam.
Karim Amer, a former al-Azhar University student and blogger, is facingup to 10 years in prison for his writings in a trial that resumes today. Charges against him include "spreading information disruptive of publicorder and damaging to the country's reputation," "incitement to hate Islam"and "defaming the President of the Republic."
"Karim Amer's trial appears intended as a warning by the authorities toother bloggers who dare criticize the government or use their blogs tospread information considered harmful to Egypt's reputation," said MalcolmSmart, director of the Middle East and North Africa Program. "This isparticularly worrying as bloggers have increasingly been postinginformation about human rights abuses in Egypt, including torture andpolice violence against peaceful protesters."
The trial opened on Jan. 18, 2007 before Maharram Bek Court inAlexandria. Karim Amer was charged under Articles 102, 176 and 179 ofEgypt's Penal Code. Amnesty International has been urging the Egyptianauthorities to review or abolish this and other legislation that, inviolation of international standards, stipulates prison sentences for themere exercise of the rights of freedom of expression, thought, conscienceand religion.
"Amnesty International considers Karim Amer to be a prisoner ofconscience who is being prosecuted on account of the peaceful expression ofhis views about Islam and the al-Azhar religious authorities. We arecalling for his immediate and unconditional release," Smart added.
Background
Karim Amer was first detained by the Egyptian authorities for 12 daysin October 2005 because of his writings on his blog (karam903.blogspot.com)about Islam and the sectarian riots which took place in the same month inAlexandria's Maharram Bek district. These riots followed reports that thevideo of a play believed to be anti-Islam was being screened in a Copticchurch in the district.
After he was charged and released, disciplinary measures were takenagainst him and he was dismissed from al-Azhar University in March 2006.The university's disciplinary board found him guilty of blaspheming Islam.
He was summoned to appear before the office of the Public Prosecutor inMaharram Bek district of the city of Alexandria on 7 November 2006following a complaint made against him by al-Azhar University.
The PublicProsecutor ordered his detention for four days on 7 November, which waslater extended for a further 15 days, to allow further time forinvestigation.
He has remained in detention since then following a seriesof extensions. While in detention, he was kept in solitary confinement andin incommunicado detention and was only allowed visits by his relativeslast week.