Blogger jailed for four years for insulting Islam
In a landmark case for freedom of expression in Egypt, a young blogger has been jailed for insulting Islam and President Hosni Mubarak, drawing angry condemnation at home and abroad.
Abdel-Karim Nabil Suleiman (22) a former law student at Cairo's al-Azhar University, was sentenced to four years in prison by a court in Alexandria on Thursday after being arrested last November over eight articles he posted on his blog.
Suleiman was expelled from al-Azhar for criticising the curriculum and attacking religious extremism. At the university's urging he was then charged with spreading information disruptive of public order, incitement to hate Muslims and insulting the president.
Hafiz Abu Saada, of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights, said: "This is a strong message to all bloggers who are put under strong surveillance that the punishment will very strong."
Suleiman was one of several bloggers arrested last year, most of whom have connections to Egypt's pro-democracy reform movement. Others were freed but he was put on trial -- a sign of the sensitivity of his writings on religion. He was first detained in 2005 after criticising Muslim rioters in a post about sectarian clashes in his neighbourhood headlined The Naked Truth of Islam as I Saw it.
He also described some of the companions of the prophet Muhammad as terrorists and likened Mubarak to the pharaohs who ruled ancient Egypt.
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said: "This sets a chilling precedent in a country where blogs have opened a window for free speech. The Egyptian government should abide by its commitments to uphold free expression and release Suleiman without delay." Amnesty International called it "yet another slap in the face of freedom for expression in Egypt".
Blogging is increasingly used across the Arab world to challenge governments and discuss taboos. In Egypt it has helped get around restrictions on traditional media. The pro-democracy Kifaya movement and the banned Muslim Brotherhood group have created many websites and encourage blogging.
Egypt is a traditional centre of cultural and intellectual life.
The case highlights the way secular regimes are showing increasing sensitivity about criticism of Islam for fear of helping the cause of opposition Islamist movements. Last year Egypt was included on the blacklist of countries considered enemies of the internet and freedom of expression drawn up by the press freedom watchdog Reporters without Borders.
Last month a court in Morocco banned weekly magazine, Nichane, for insulting Islam with an article entitled How Moroccans laugh about religion, sex and politics. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Tunisia and Bahrain block access to www.rezgar.com a secularist site known for advocating freedom of expression, minority and women's rights. Other Arab countries block access to sites relating to pornography and gambling. - Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2006
Source
Abdel-Karim Nabil Suleiman (22) a former law student at Cairo's al-Azhar University, was sentenced to four years in prison by a court in Alexandria on Thursday after being arrested last November over eight articles he posted on his blog.
Suleiman was expelled from al-Azhar for criticising the curriculum and attacking religious extremism. At the university's urging he was then charged with spreading information disruptive of public order, incitement to hate Muslims and insulting the president.
Hafiz Abu Saada, of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights, said: "This is a strong message to all bloggers who are put under strong surveillance that the punishment will very strong."
Suleiman was one of several bloggers arrested last year, most of whom have connections to Egypt's pro-democracy reform movement. Others were freed but he was put on trial -- a sign of the sensitivity of his writings on religion. He was first detained in 2005 after criticising Muslim rioters in a post about sectarian clashes in his neighbourhood headlined The Naked Truth of Islam as I Saw it.
He also described some of the companions of the prophet Muhammad as terrorists and likened Mubarak to the pharaohs who ruled ancient Egypt.
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said: "This sets a chilling precedent in a country where blogs have opened a window for free speech. The Egyptian government should abide by its commitments to uphold free expression and release Suleiman without delay." Amnesty International called it "yet another slap in the face of freedom for expression in Egypt".
Blogging is increasingly used across the Arab world to challenge governments and discuss taboos. In Egypt it has helped get around restrictions on traditional media. The pro-democracy Kifaya movement and the banned Muslim Brotherhood group have created many websites and encourage blogging.
Egypt is a traditional centre of cultural and intellectual life.
The case highlights the way secular regimes are showing increasing sensitivity about criticism of Islam for fear of helping the cause of opposition Islamist movements. Last year Egypt was included on the blacklist of countries considered enemies of the internet and freedom of expression drawn up by the press freedom watchdog Reporters without Borders.
Last month a court in Morocco banned weekly magazine, Nichane, for insulting Islam with an article entitled How Moroccans laugh about religion, sex and politics. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Tunisia and Bahrain block access to www.rezgar.com a secularist site known for advocating freedom of expression, minority and women's rights. Other Arab countries block access to sites relating to pornography and gambling. - Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2006
Source
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