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Our Reports
The Internet In the Arab World
A New Space of Repression?
No Rules, No Limits
United Arab Emirates:
Freedom of expression is missing despite a decision banning imprisonment for press crimes
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The number of bloggers in custody facing charges of
“taking advantage of the prevailing atmosphere of democracy to over throw the regime” in Egypt is on the increase.
Cairo, 28 October, 2008
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information announced today that the Egyptian security forces have arrested another two bloggers. The arrests of Abd Altawab Mahmoud who runs “Allhayat Alsaeda” blog (http://ragabhpl.blogspot.com) and Khalifa Ebaid, who runs “Ana Mathoon” blog in Fayoum city has increased the numbers of bloggers currently in custody to three. Another blogger has been expelled from his university campus.
Though the investigations with bloggers were never been equitable, It was expected that the arrest of the bloggers would take place because of their affiliations with Muslim Brotherhood groups but incredibly , the charge was given as “taking advantage of the prevailing atmosphere of democracy to overthrow the regime.” This is yet another accusation to add to the lengthy list used by the Egyptian government against their opponents since the middle of the last century! This new accusation is the most ridiculous of all, since no government official would reasonably dare to claim that there is any atmosphere of democracy to be enjoyed by these young bloggers or anyone else.
The Legal Aid Unit for Freedom of Expression at the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information issued the following statement:
“Some bloggers have been detained for their involvement in the relief caravans to the Gaza strip, others for their solidarity with those who had already been arrested. Both these excuses are unlawful, but despite this those who were arrested were detained and had their human rights abused in the Snors police station at Fayoum. If there has been any crime committed in this case, it is by the officer who issued the arrest warrant and carried out the abuse.”
The current campaign has so far resulted in the arrests of:
- Mohamed Khairy, from Fayoum who runs "garshakal" blog
http://garshkal.blogspot.com
- Abd Altawab Mahmoud who runs “Alhayat Alsaeda” blog
http://ragabhpl.blogspot.com
- Khalifa Ebaid, who runs “Ana Mathoon” blog.
The police are also pursuing the following bloggers:
- Mohamed Adil, from Gharbia city and runs "Meit" blog
http://43arb.info/meit
- Bilal Ala'a Gharbia city and runs "Balad Baladna" blog
http://khabta.blogspot.com
- Husam Yahya, Dakahlia city and runs "Sout Alhuria" blog
http://sotelhoria.blogspot.com
- In addition Ahmed Abd Algawy who runs “Akeed fi Masr" blog http://akeedinegypt.blogspot.com has been expelled from his university campus.
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