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Alert

Young blogger sentenced to four years in prison for "disparaging religion" and "defaming the president"

(HRinfo/IFEX) - HRinfo condemns the harsh sentence announced by Moharram Beik Misdemeanor Court in Alexandria against the secular blogger, Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman, popularly known as Kareem Amer. Amer was sentenced for four years in prison on charges of disparaging religion and defaming the Egyptian president.

The court held a session on 22 February 2007 to announce its verdict on the charges filed against Amer. HRinfo and Hisham Mubarak Law Center (HMLC) submitted their defence memorandums to the judge, who had decided previously not to allow a session for verbal defence. Judge Ayman Okaz sentenced Amer, who was present in the court room, to four years in prison - three years for disparaging Islam and one year for defaming the president. The court dropped the third charge of broadcasting statements which could disturb public order.

"It is a gloomy day for all advocates of freedom of expression, not only in Egypt but also throughout the world," HRinfo Executive Director Gamal Eid said. "When a young man is punished for expressing secular views in a country claiming to respect citizens' right to freedom of expression, it is a catastrophe. Democratic countries all over the world have already eliminated such charges from their laws".

HRinfo decided to appeal the prison sentence imposed on Amer as soon as possible. HRinfo will also continue its campaign to have him released, in order to prevent his unprecedented imprisonment from being repeated in cases against other secularists and advocates of freedom of expression in Egypt. It is particularly worrying that this sentence completely contradicts articles 18 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was signed by Egypt almost a quarter of a century ago.

"Disparaging religion is a stretchable and vague charge. It should not be subject to personal beliefs and points of view. [. . . ] As well, the charge of defaming the president has already been removed from the regulations of all democratic countries, because it imposes restrictions on the right to political criticism and contradicts the right to freedom of expression," Eid said.

HRinfo calls upon human rights organisations, journalists, and advocates for freedom of expression in Egypt and all over the world to intensify their solidarity with Kareem Amer, in order to oblige the Egyptian state to rule according to stated laws, not according to the views of religious men or the executive officials of law.

For more information on Amer's case, see: http://www.hrinfo.net/en/focus/2007/pr0117.shtml