The ‘crime’ of blogging in Egypt:
Egyptian authorities have made a mistake in prosecuting Soliman. It is Egypt that will be hurt if he is convicted and sent to prison. That’s why sincere friends of Egypt call on the government to drop the charges against him. It is the right thing to do, and it is the best thing for Egypt’s standing in the modern world.
Unfortunately, Kareem is unlikely to get off without being sentenced. He will be lucky to get less than 2-3 years. We’ll see tomorrow — I hope I’m wrong.
He got four years:
Egypt blogger jailed for ‘insult’
An Egyptian court has sentenced an internet blogger to four years’ prison for insulting Islam and the president.
Abdul Karim Nabil’s trial was the first time that a blogger had been prosecuted in Egypt.
He had used his weblog to criticise the country’s top Islamic institution, the al-Azhar university and President Hosni Mubarak, whom he called a dictator.
A human rights group called the verdict “very tough” and a “strong message” to Egypt’s many thousands of bloggers.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/in_depth/6385849.stm
Published: 2007/02/22 11:13:40 GMT