The regime’s sponsors in Washington are still debating the sweet $1.7 billion of US tax-payers money, given in the form of economic and military aid to Mubarak. Here are excerpts from the US House of Representatives’ International Relations subcommittee hearing on Wednesday… Continue reading The politics of hypocrisy, Part II
Month: June 2006
Leftist detainees released
Ibrahim el-Sahary, detained socialist journalist, called me five minutes ago. He’s free! Cheerful! He said he and a group of the detainees were taken from Tora Prison to State Security Giza premise (Gaber Ibn Hayyan) few hours ago, before they were released, including Wael Khalil, Kamal Khalil, and the rest.
Mabrouk! It’s a great day!
But again, we should NOT forget there are still two Youth for Change activists Mohamed el-Sharqawi and Karim el-Sha3er in Tora Prison, together with at least 700 Muslim Brothers detainees, after their arrest in pro-democracy demos. Their release is a cause leftists, liberals and Islamists have to lobby for.
Statement from 3alaa’s lawyers; New letter from Sharqawi
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information has welcomed 3alaa’s release. Still, it denounced the State Security Prosecutor’s office, and called for reviewing its legal status. You can find the English statement here.
The Arabic statement is followed by a scanned copy of a letter from Sharqawi, dated Wednesday, complaining of maltreatment.
The Arabic statement is followed by a scanned copy of a letter from Sharqawi, dated Wednesday, complaining of maltreatment.
3alaa beaten up in 3omraniya police station
I received an SMS saying 3alaa was beaten up inside the notorious 3omraniya police station in Giza, where he’s currently locked up, pending release, following an order by the State Security prosecutor two days ago.
I spoke with his wife Manal. She says 3alaa was moved from Luman Tora prison to State Security’s premise in Giza (Gaber Ibn Hayyan), then to the 3omraniya police station last night, for the ever-lasting bureaucratic paper work. 3alaa was locked up in a tiny cell, full of criminals, some of whom were high on drugs and others were armed with knives and sharp objects, Manal said. Scuffles have broken out inside the cell between the criminals, who reportedly hit 3alaa several times. 3alaa spent the night standing on his feet, coz there was no room for him to sleep in that filthy cell. According to Manal, he managed to call her on the mobile phone, and he sounded in a very bad state, desperate to get out.
I called Ahmad Seif al-Islam, 3alaa’s father. He is still hopeful his son will be released in few hours.
Some activists and 3alaa’s family are standing at the moment in front of the police station awaiting the blogger’s release. On hearing the news 3alaa was beaten up, other activists are now on their way to the police station to protest 3alaa’s maltreatement.
This is bloody unbelievable! Let’s hope 3alaa gets out soon!
I spoke with his wife Manal. She says 3alaa was moved from Luman Tora prison to State Security’s premise in Giza (Gaber Ibn Hayyan), then to the 3omraniya police station last night, for the ever-lasting bureaucratic paper work. 3alaa was locked up in a tiny cell, full of criminals, some of whom were high on drugs and others were armed with knives and sharp objects, Manal said. Scuffles have broken out inside the cell between the criminals, who reportedly hit 3alaa several times. 3alaa spent the night standing on his feet, coz there was no room for him to sleep in that filthy cell. According to Manal, he managed to call her on the mobile phone, and he sounded in a very bad state, desperate to get out.
I called Ahmad Seif al-Islam, 3alaa’s father. He is still hopeful his son will be released in few hours.
Some activists and 3alaa’s family are standing at the moment in front of the police station awaiting the blogger’s release. On hearing the news 3alaa was beaten up, other activists are now on their way to the police station to protest 3alaa’s maltreatement.
This is bloody unbelievable! Let’s hope 3alaa gets out soon!
UPDATE: I just received breaking news….. 3alaa released!!!!!!!!
I called his wife on the mobile, but his sister Mona replied instead. She said 3alaa was beside her, talking on two cellular phones.. but she said he’s out… yes, finally out!!!! hohohohohoh!! MABROUK YA SHABAB! MABROUK YA TENNIN YA BAMBY!
UPDATE: Finally spoke with 3alaa. He’s in great spirit. I asked him, “Shall we meet up soon?” He answered quickly, “Of course, next demo!” followed by a long laughter…
UPDATE: Nora Younis posted a photo of 3alaa with Manal at home following his release.
New Zawahiri video
Al-Jazeera has just aired few minutes ago a new video by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s aide, where he accused the US army of conducting a “massacre against civilians in Kabul” last month. He also called up on Afghanis to support the “mujahideen” in their fight against Western military presence.
Al-Jazeera said it obtained the video from the internet. Continue reading New Zawahiri video
Al-Jazeera said it obtained the video from the internet. Continue reading New Zawahiri video
Afghan security orders journalists to report “more good news”
This is just pathetic…
The best Karzai’s government could come up with–in response to Taliban’s mounting attacks on NATO, local government troops as well as civilians, since spring of this year–is sending Afghani intelligence agents to intimidate Kabul’s press corps into reporting “more good news.â€� Here are excerpts of Newsday report by James Rupert:
Afghanistan orders journalists to report more good news
KABUL, Afghanistan — The war against the Taliban has gone badly these last months, but Afghanistan’s national intelligence agency has devised a secret plan to reverse the tide of bad news.
In a coordinated action this week, the intelligence men drove up to TV stations and newspapers in SUVs and dropped off an unsigned letter ordering journalists to report more favorable news about the government. In particular, the letter said, they should avoid “materials which deteriorate people’s morale and cause disappointment to them.”
The men from the National Security Directorate would not give their names, and to better ensure secrecy, the letter instructed journalists that “publishing or copying this document is unauthorized.”
Immediately, of course, it was Afghanistan’s top story: The government was imposing censorship, and press groups were protesting in outrage. By Monday night, the fire reached China, where President Hamid Karzai is traveling. (Full story)
The best Karzai’s government could come up with–in response to Taliban’s mounting attacks on NATO, local government troops as well as civilians, since spring of this year–is sending Afghani intelligence agents to intimidate Kabul’s press corps into reporting “more good news.â€� Here are excerpts of Newsday report by James Rupert:
Afghanistan orders journalists to report more good news
KABUL, Afghanistan — The war against the Taliban has gone badly these last months, but Afghanistan’s national intelligence agency has devised a secret plan to reverse the tide of bad news.
In a coordinated action this week, the intelligence men drove up to TV stations and newspapers in SUVs and dropped off an unsigned letter ordering journalists to report more favorable news about the government. In particular, the letter said, they should avoid “materials which deteriorate people’s morale and cause disappointment to them.”
The men from the National Security Directorate would not give their names, and to better ensure secrecy, the letter instructed journalists that “publishing or copying this document is unauthorized.”
Immediately, of course, it was Afghanistan’s top story: The government was imposing censorship, and press groups were protesting in outrage. By Monday night, the fire reached China, where President Hamid Karzai is traveling. (Full story)
The Road to Gitmo
A movie on Guantanamo, based on the true story of the Tipton Three, is to start showing in US theatres tomorrow June 23, amid increasing calls for shutting down the island’s gulag. George Bush announced Wednesday in Vienna the US ‘wants to end Guantanamo,’ and send most of the detainees back to their home countries. Some would be put on trial in the US, he added though.
Al-Jazeera targeted?
The Committee to Protect Journalists has issued a statement today expressing its concern over the new information–regarding the November 2001 bombing of Al-Jazeera office in Kabul– that accuses the US army of deliberately targeting the Arab satellite channel office. The information has come out in Ron Suskind’s new book, The One Percent Doctrine.
“On November 13, a hectic day when Kabul fell to the Northern Alliance and there were celebrations in the streets of the city, a U.S. missile obliterated Al-Jazeera’s office,� Suskind wrote in the book, which was released yesterday. “Inside the CIA and White House there was satisfaction that a message had been sent to Al-Jazeera.� Continue reading Al-Jazeera targeted?
All detainees to be released, except Sharqawi and Sha3er
I was just on the phone with Ahmad Seif al-Islam, director of the Hisham Mubarak Law Center and father of detained blogger 3alaa. He said all remaining non-Muslim Brothers detainees, around 20 Kefaya activists are to be released– including Kamal Khalil, Gamal 3abdel Fattah, Wael Khalil, Ibrahim el-Sahary–by a unexpected order from the State Security Prosecutor today.
Karim el-Sha3er and Mohamed el-Sharqawi were given another 15 days in prison, however. They, together with 3alaa el-Kashef (an activist from 3arish), had been the only activists referred today to the State Security Prosecutor, who decided only to release the latter, and renew the detention of the first two. The rest of the activists are to be released directly, sometime tomorrow from Luman Tora and Mazra3et Tora prisons.
Karim el-Sha3er and Mohamed el-Sharqawi were given another 15 days in prison, however. They, together with 3alaa el-Kashef (an activist from 3arish), had been the only activists referred today to the State Security Prosecutor, who decided only to release the latter, and renew the detention of the first two. The rest of the activists are to be released directly, sometime tomorrow from Luman Tora and Mazra3et Tora prisons.
MABROUK YA SHABAB!
3alaa Seif al-Islam, whose release was ordered yesterday, is still in Tora Prison as of the moment. His friends have expressed concern his release could be further stalled, but hoped he would be freed tomorrow. 3alaa has been blogging from his prison cell. His last posting was about “Kambuzz,” a “criminal” who was moved to their cell, as part of the “punishment” to the political detainees for hunger-striking. 3alaa wrote it seems the prison authorities’ policy has been bringing opposite results, with the “criminals” getting politicized and joining the dissidents’ cause.
And, we should not forget there are around 700 detainees from the Muslim Brotherhood still in prison, after being picked up in pro-democracy demos, from their homes, or summer camps. We all hope their release will follow soon. Continue reading All detainees to be released, except Sharqawi and Sha3er
Spanish barbershop, Tangiers
