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Below is a translation of Monem’s post “Free the Brothers…Free Abdel Kareem… Free Egypt” originally published on March 7, 2007 in his blog Ana Ikhwan: [Translated by Fatima Azzahra El Azzouzi- Morocco]

I have received many questions concerning my opinion on the trial of the blogger Abdel Kareem Amer. I also received a survey on blogging from a British journalist in which two questions were about the blogger Abdel Kareem. If I had not been fully engaged in the successive incidents regarding the Brothers, I would have stated my opinion on the matter immediately.

To begin with, I disagree with the opinions of Abdel Kareem, but I believe that it’s unfair for the security forces to treat him this way, punish him for his personal opinions, and sentence him for his so-called “contempt for the president.” I believe that this behavior is unfair to a young man who, along with his friends, will not change his ideas simply because he fears punishment at the hands of the security forces.

As a matter of fact, this is the same practice the system uses to confront the Muslim Brotherhood and the same practice pursued by the Egyptian government towards the Egyptian people. It’s not religion that the system cares about or wants to defend. Rather, the system cares about shutting up anyone who tries to speak up or express personal opinions. An oppressive system that detains Abdel Kareem Amer and Khayrat Shatir detains all of Egypt.

Join me in claiming freedom for Egypt!