Abdel Karim has been jailed for blogging against Islam and the president Hosne Mubarak. Yasmin has a well articulated post which critically examines the fallacy of the verdict.
Amazingly, Chapter Three of the Egyptian Constitution which deals with Public Freedoms, Rights and Duties says in Article 47: “Freedom of opinion shall be guaranteed. Every individual shall have the right to express his opinion and to publicize it verbally, in writing, by photography or by other means of expression within the limits of the law. Self criticism and constructive criticism shall guarantee the safety of the national structure. “
This is exactly what Karim has done. He exercised his freedom of opinion. He took his right of expressing his opinion seriously and believed enough in it to write it on the internet in a publicly accessible blog. In my opinion Karim lived up to both his own true self and principles as well as his religion. In his Blogger profile he wrote that he was looking forward to help humanity against all forms of discrimination. The Qur’an implores believers to speak up against injustice, which is precisely what Karim has done.
The update is shocking
Abdel Karim father announced today that he is disowning Abdel Karim, and that he would like to see Sharia Law applied to his son, in which he would have 3 days to repent at the end of which if he is not repentent, he would be killed. The Father also announced that he intends to disown his son publicly in court- accompanied by his Koran-memorizing 4 other children- the day of the verdict in order to “lift the pressure” that the civil society and human rights organization maybe imposing on the Court. He also called the Human Rights organizations who are fighting for his son’s freedom “Chimps Rights Organizations” since “they are defending a Chimp like AbdelKarim” who is emulating the west in “their thinking and opinions”. Nice, eh?
Why do I have the feeling that this court session will be a circus?
[sandmonkey, http://www.sandmonkey.org/2007/02/18/abdel-karim-family-disowns-him/]
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I hear a lot about Egypt. What is going on there? Some US supported dictatorship?
I heard they were involved in some torture as well!
Obviously! there were reports of an Egyptian cleric being taken away from Italy by the CIA.
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