Judge says verdict in blogger's trial will be given on 22 February

The verdict in the trial of imprisoned blogger Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman will be delivered on 22 February, Alexandria judge Ayman al-Akazi announced yesterday at the end of the trial's second court session yesterday. Suleiman, who used the pseudonym of Kareem Amer for his blog, was yesterday accused of “apostasy” by one of the team of prosecuting lawyers, Mohamed Dawoud, who already spoke out against him during the first hearing on 25 January. Dawoud called for “the maximum penalty for one who has insulted God, his Prophet and the Koran.” Defence lawyers responded that the prosecution case was incomplete and that Suleiman could not be convicted of Internet-related offences that do not appear in Egypt's criminal code. Suleiman, who is pleading not guilty, said: “I was simply expression my views... I had no intention of insulting Islam or President Mubarak.” He is facing a possible 11-year prison sentence on charges of inciting hatred of Islam, defaming the president and spreading rumours likely to disturb the peace in blog posts critical of Islam. -------------------- 25.01.07 Trial of blogger Kareem Amer adjourned to 1st February Following a hearing before a court in Alexandria, on 25 January 2007, the judge agreed to a request from his lawyers to adjourn the trial of blogger, Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman, who writes under the penname Kareem Amer, until 1st February. Reporters Without Borders points out that he faces up to 11 years in prison for "incitement to hatred of Islam", "defamation" of the Egyptian president and "spreading rumours disturbing public order". The organisation calls on Cairo-based diplomats to take advantage of the adjournment to intervene with the Egyptian authorities on the blogger's behalf. The defence lawyers chiefly asked for the adjournment so that a computer expert could be called, capable of identifying the country where a website to which Kareem Amer was said to contribute - Modern discussions (www.rezgar.com) - is hosted, since if it could be proved that it is hosted abroad, the Egyptian justice system could be barred from ruling on the case. A lawyer named Mohamed Dawoud has also asked the judge to be allowed to appear against the blogger at the trial. If his request is accepted, he would give evidence in support of the charge of "incitement to hatred of Islam" put forward by the prosecutor. ------------------------------ 22.01.07 - Justice minister asked to intercede on behalf of blogger “Kareem Amer” Reporters Without Borders and the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information wrote to justice minister Mamdouh Marei today asking him to intercede on behalf of Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman (better known by his blogger pseudonym of Kareem Amer), whose trial is due to start on 25 January in Alexandria. Held since 6 November, he faces up to nine years in prison for posting articles critical of Islam on his blog (www.karam903.blogspot.com). “We hope you will follow this case closely and ensure that this young blogger is released soon,” the press freedom organisation said in its letter. “The freedom with which Suleiman expresses himself may cause displeasure, but he must assume responsibility for what he writes, which poses no danger to national security. A prison sentence would therefore bring disgrace on the Egyptian judicial system and sully your country's image. Particularly because Article 151 of the Egyptian Constitution stipulates that any agreement signed and ratified by Egypt becomes part of domestic law and applied like any other legislation. Egypt signed the International Covenant for Civil and Political Right, in which articles 18 and 19 clearly stipulate everyone's right to freedom of expression, opinion, thought, conscience and religion. Subsequently, no one should ever be imprisoned for a press offence or for the views they express.” The letter added: “We would also like to draw your attention to the harsh conditions in which this young blogger is being held and the worrying state of his health. He has been in solitary confinement for more than two months. This has left him very weak and has affected him psychologically.” Suleiman is charged with inciting hatred of Islam, defaming the Egyptian president, spreading rumours likely to disturb the peace, and damaging Egypt's reputation. His blogs regularly criticised the religious and authoritarian excesses of President Hosni Mubarak's government. He also criticised Egypt's highest religious institutions including the Sunni university of Al-Azhar, where he studied law. Egypt is on the list of the 13 Internet enemies which Reporters Without Borders compiled in 2006. Kareem Amer in court, in a prisoner's white uniform ------------------------- Create your blog with Reporters Without Borders : www.rsfblog.org