(HRinfo/IFEX) – HRinfo condemns the extension of Abdel Karim Suliman Amer’s detention for an additional 15 days. The blogger, also known as Kareem Amer, is in detention while being investigated only because he practiced the basic right to express his own thoughts on his blog. On 22 November 2006, Mohram Bek Court considered the extension […]
(HRinfo/IFEX) – HRinfo condemns the extension of Abdel Karim Suliman Amer’s detention for an additional 15 days. The blogger, also known as Kareem Amer, is in detention while being investigated only because he practiced the basic right to express his own thoughts on his blog.
On 22 November 2006, Mohram Bek Court considered the extension of Kareem’s detention through to 6 December. This occurred despite the defense arguments provided by Kareem’s HRinfo lawyer and the lack of justification for the detention. Kareem went to the Prosecutor’s Office when he was called to be questioned on 7 November, and there is no evidence to suggest that Kareem might attempt to alter evidence in his case if he is released.
Kareem was questioned again on 22 November. His interrogators tried to force him to recant his ideas, and then reprimanded him for expressing such ideas by extending his detention for the second time.
“Remand is enacted as a necessity when the court fears that the accused might escape or tamper with the criminal evidence claimed against him. In the case of Kareem, this is not applicable. Remand, here, is used as a penalty for Kareem’s belief in some ideas of which the Egyptian government disapproves. The detention of any person, simply for holding and expressing different ideas, reflects the government’s hostility to freedom of expression. More struggle is required to establish this right,” said HRinfo’s executive director; Gamal Eid.
HRinfo calls upon civil society and freedom of expression advocates in Egypt and all over the globe to urge the Egyptian government to respect its international obligations through elimination of the penalty of detention for the expression of opinions and through the immediate release of Kareem Amer.
