A new petition calling for the release of jailed Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer has been launched. In February 2007, Amer was sentenced by an Alexandria Court to four years in prison – three for blasphemy against Islam and one for insulting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Egyptian bloggers have repeatedly called for his freedom over the years but all their pleas fell on deaf ears.
In March 2007, a call went out for a second round of worldwide rallies to pressure the Egyptian government to free the detained blogger. In May of the same year, Kareem lost his last chance in court when his pro bono lawyers submitted a cassation file for revoking the verdict; and in December 2007, the jailed Egyptian Blogger Kareem Amer awarded by RSF & Fondation de France.
February 2009 marked Kareem’s second anniversary in prison; The Committe to Protect Bloggers wrote in his support:
It could be you. But it’s not. It’s Egypt’s Kareem. Don’t forget him. It’s what Egypt’s leadership would like you to do.
From Free Kareem:
2 years ago.. Kareem was officially sentenced to 4 years in prison, 2 of which he has already served. Throughout this time Kareem has been beaten, humiliated and harassed. But he remains strong, despite feeling frustrated and lonely. He has written several letters which we have published here, expressing his current state and also his appreciation of everyone around the world who continues to fight for his cause.
A recent article in Menassat has also featured news from his letters:
BEIRUT, February 19, 2009 (MENASSAT)- “Do you think that life outside prison will be better or do you think it will be more hell than here?” imprisoned blogger Kareem Amer asked “Wahda Masrya” in a letter a few days ago.
Wahda Masrya, moderator of the blog “An Egyptian girl” and a close friend of Amer, told MENASSAT that the dissident blogger currently feels “very lonely” and that he is in need of “moral support.”
The blogger has been in prison since 2006, and it appears to have taken a hard toll on him.
“Prison has become a part of my imagination. I don’t remember what life was like before my imprisonment and what people look like outside,” Amer wrote in his letter.
Wahda Masrya said Amer’s atheist views make it especially hard for him and that he fears for his safety after his release from Alexandria’s Borg Al-Arab prison.
“In his letter, I see that he is frustrated. He wrote that he is not sure if being out will be safer for him. He needs to be reassured that he will be safe, as he is considered an atheist.” Wahdamasryra told MENASSAT.
Read the rest of the article here.
To find out how you can help, please visit this page, or obtain the prison address from this page and help give Kareem moral support by sending him a letter encouraging his strength.
Last month, Kareem Amer’s appeal was postponed to September 15, and then again to October 20. In reaction, Egyptian blogger Wael Nawara started a new petition to free Amer.
Nawara writes:
ماذا Ùعل كريم عامر؟
كي٠استØÙ‚ أن يسجن لشهور وأعوام طويلة بل للØظة واØدة؟
لأنه انتقد السلطة أم لأنه اختل٠ÙÙŠ الرأي أو العقيدة مع البعض؟
ما هذه التهمة المضØكة المسماة بازدراء الأديان؟
وهل أن يقوم البعض بانتقاد الÙكر الديني ÙŠØµØ¨Ø Ø¹Ø±Ø¶Ø© للسجن؟
طالب بالإÙراج عن كريم عامر الآن
وقع هذه العريضة الالكترونية للمطالبة بالإÙراج عن البلوجر المصري كريم عامر:::
http://www.petitiononline.com/KAmer/petition.html
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What did Kareem Amer do?
How did he deserve to be held in prison for months and years or even for one minute?
Because he criticized the authorities in Egypt?
Because he has different opinions or beliefs than some or even all of us?
Because he criticized religious thought?
How can this be a crime?
Holding Kareem Amer in custody violates Egyptian Constitution and also seriously violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Demand freedom of Kareem Amer NOW.
Sign this Petition and Invite your Friends to Sign.
:::
http://www.petitiononline.com/KAmer/petition.html
:::
Before it is YOU tomorrow who is put behind bars
In October 2009, The Arabic Network for Human Rights urged President Mubarak to interfere Tarek Ez AlDen wrote:
The Arabic Network for Human Rights urged President Mubarak to grant blogger kareem Nabil Soliman known as Kareem Amer pardon after doing three quaters of his jail time.