PEN International welcomes the release of Internet writer Kareem Amer on November 15, 2010, ten days after completing a four-year jail sentence for his critical writings. PEN expresses serious concern over reports that Kareem Amer was ill-treated at the State Security Intelligence headquarters in the days after his sentence expired, and urges that they are fully investigated.

Background Information

According to PEN’s information, Kareem Amer was removed from Alexandria's Borg al-Arab prison when his sentence expired on November 5, 2010, and taken to the State Security Intelligence headquarters in Alexandria, where he was held illegally for an additional ten days and reportedly ill-treated. On the evening of November 15, 2010, he was finally released, and returned home to his family. He is said to be safe and seeking to maintain a low profile. It is not known if there any conditions attached to his release.
 
Kareem Amer was arrested on November 7, 2006, after posting articles critical of Islam on his blog. He was charged with "incitement to hate Muslims," "defaming the President of the Republic" and "insulting Islam," and held on renewable two-week detention orders until his trial began on January, 18, 2007. He was sentenced to four years in prison on February 22, 2007.
 
Kareem Amer is a former al-Azhyar University student and is known for his secular views and his critical writings on Islam and Egypt’s highest religious authorities, published online.

More Information:

Write A Letter

  • Welcoming the release of Internet writer Kareem Amer;
  • Calling for all restrictions against him, if there are any, to be lifted in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Egypt is a signatory;
  • Urging the Egyptian government to clearly implement the international standards set out by the ICCPR;
  • Expressing serious concern at reports that Kareem Amer was ill-treated while at the State Security Intelligence headquarters, and urging that they are fully investigated.

Send Your Letter To

His Excellency Mohammad Hosni Mubarak
President of the Republic of Egypt
Heliopolis
Egypt
Fax: +202 390 1998

His Excellency Cr Mamdouh Muheiddin Marei
Minister of Justice
Magles El Shaab St
Justice Bldg
Cairo
Egypt
Fax: +202 795 8103

Please also copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Egypt in your country if possible.

Please contact PEN if sending appeals after December 20, 2010: ftw [at] pen.org