Free Kareem Rally, February 22, 2010

Abdul Kareem Nabeel Suleiman, better known by his Internet pseudonym Kareem Amer, is a 24-year-old native of Alexandria, Egypt. He grew up in a very religious family and attended the Al-Azhar religious school system his entire life. He began to rebel against the religious extremism he perceived in his school and began to express his opinions on a blog and Modern Discussion. When the Al-Azhar administration discovered his blog in late 2005, he was expelled from the school and his case was referred to state prosecutors. On February 22, 2007, Kareem was sentenced to four years in prison: three years for contempt of religion, and one year for defaming the President of Egypt. An appeal court in mid-March upheld the four-year prison sentence against him, and the judge approved a civil claim filed by the eleven lawyers who want to fine Kareem for insulting Islam.

His most recent appeal was rejected.

http://www.FreeKareem.org

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Free
• Kareem
• Bureaucrash
• CATO
• Lee
• Doren
• Joey
• Coon
• Egypt
• Speech
• 1st
• Amendment
• Protest
• Rally
• Embassy
• Abdul
• Nabeel
• Suleiman
• Blogger
• Arrest
• Jail
• Dissent
• Religion

[teamShotFilms]

I feel bad, I am going to write him a letter. He is only my age.

[Re5Publica]

Good video. I've read about Kareem years ago, and didn't think many others knew about his situation. It's great that you're raising awareness, thanks.

[sedatedlife18]

If the law(s) in question only serve as a detriment to the society in which they are applied then sometimes the only way to illustrate the flawed law is to break it on a public forum. It's very much like the sit-ins of the '50s and '60s. The law was purposefully, but peacefully, broken in order to bring the eyes of the public at large to the injustice brought upon them by the establishment. When people realised what the law was doing they were repealed. That is the "goal" here as well.

[sedatedlife18]

I acknowledge the consequences as well, but I, and assuming from the predicament him too, choose to ignore certain consequences of laws that we do not agree with. I no longer smoke, but for a long time I smoked pot. I knew the consequences of my actions if I were caught, and I decided that I would take the risk. Still to this day I take a strong anti-prohibition standpoint on that subject. The point of the movement is not the validity of the law, but the purpose it serves in society.

[curiouschem]

I definitely applaud his stand for liberty, but I also acknowledge that it has consequences.

because I am new to this, I re-watched this video and read some of his blogs as well as other people's writings of the situation. From these actions, I again state that he has taken actions which brought upon him reactions from the courts where he lives. They have pointed out the laws and rules of that society, though he wishes to change them, he cannot escape their application. again I applaud him.

[sedatedlife18]

If you can't see beyond the black and white explanation of "he broke the law", then there is no point in trying to argue my point of view. It's about liberty, freedom, and common sense. If the US outlawed youtube pages would you immediately shut yours down, or would you rebel against the system? It's a personal choice that we all must make, and he chose to take a stand for liberty.

[sedatedlife18]

Islamic religious law, which in certain countries is held in higher regards than the law of said country.

[curiouschem]

well, if he broke the law, shouldn't he be punished?

whether he agrees with the law or not, if he breaks the law, there are consequences.

[curiouschem]

don't understand really. did he break Egyptian law?

[LokiScoutSniper]

Small or large, one nation or one man, Kareem like Tibet or North Korea should be free. I fear my nation is being changed for the worst yet would die to protect my opponents rights to express such change. What do they fear so much to oppress, a good debate, from a single man. Just a kid with a few words for thought he is. If a written letter could only change this, but I understand their mentality to much, they fear change as much as debate. Use your ability to debate and write that letter.

[corenothing]

Meant to go, Slept in, Felt like a jerk, Next time...