May 15, 2007 Monem managed to smuggle his first blog-post from his prison cell in Torah Mahkoum. Monem clearly stated that he will continue to blog, write and demonstrate for Freedom and for Egypt. We will continue to spread his message and make Monem’s voice heard all over the world

Hi.. from behind bars

From the Cairo Mahkoum prison in Torah I write my first prison-post.. from this place where feelings mix between injustice, captivity, and longing for freedom.. longing for friends and for my keyboard on which I played the tunes of a visual and readable image of Egypt.

I am writing now as I look at the bars separating me from freedom.. separating me from my friends, my job, and my blog.. it even separates me from clear sky; for even the clouds became shaded with bars and the moon has become no longer free in my eyes..

In this depressing place I try to escape by thinking of people, places and tasks I have a fondly connection with.. but whenever I attempt to communicate and engage the prison keeper appears and violently slams my cell door reminding me I am deprived from them and can only meet them in my imaginary world.

Mum and Dad
In this place my brain revolts day and night. I remember my father whom I can not see. This time he is also unable to see me for illness has worn him out and news of my third arrest set him captive to a hospital bed in Alexandria.

As for Mum, who used to embrace me in this place and lift all my pains, the day has passed and I couldn’t see her because she is busy nursing my father. My only comfort is that gracious God is in their support and He is more merciful to them than I could be.

My blog Ana Ikhwan
The blog that terrifies the dissolved regime? Ohhh how much I long for it. It was my life-partner. I think of it all night then work on developing it all day. Islam Lotfy used to tell me my blog is my heaven.

Ana Ikhwan is my message to myself, to the young Muslim Brothers, and to the society.. I wanted to show that Brothers are humans who have the same dreams.. we have fun.. we drink.. we sit to cafes.. we go to movies.. we demonstrate.. and we blog for freedom.

Ana Ikhwan.. is the message of an Egyptian person who belongs to a reform movement, who loves Egypt and want it set-free from tyranny, dictatorship and corruption.

Ana Ikhwan.. is an Egyptian message for co-existence.. Communist.. Copt.. Secular.. Brother.. what’s important is one’s love for Egypt.

Hi my freiends
I have received many solidarity messages from some friends whom I know, and other people whom I do not know and who didn’t know me before, yet they wrote about me and announced their solidarity with me and called for my freedom. But first of all I want to send my love and greetings to the “hole group” especially Mohammed and Islam.. I miss chatting with Mohammed a lot.. Ohh I recall how we used to stay up all night then you drive me home and we chat some more till you’re so late for your home.

Islam Lotfy, I tired him out after Qassas.. Come let’s go have lunch here then go meet this person.. Isn’t Ain Shams close to October city (his home)? Come drive me then we’ll both return very quickly. I miss your provocations ya Islam.

I also have to thank many people not only the ones who stood in solidarity with me, and checked on my mum and dad:

Eman, my loyal colleague who takes care of Yalla Talaba whenever I go to prison. Also now, God bless her, she is collecting my diploma documents from university.

Khaled Salama, the great intellectual who set me up and kept encouraging me “Blog Monem! Write Monem!“. See Khaled, I ended up in el-Mahkoum.

A special thanks to bloggers whom our relationship overstepped the internet. Alaa Seif, Mohamed Adel, Asad, Ahmed Abdel Fattah, Hossam el-Hamalawy, Sharqawi, Nora Younis, Wael Abbas, Sami bin Gharbeia in Tunisia, and many many other people.

Special thanks to Mark Lynch who is considered the first western writer to spot the Muslim Brotherhood blogs and wrote about Brotherhood of the Blogs in the Guardian.

Special thanks to the big sister and the dear friend Nadia abol Magd whom I keep getting her greetings.

Down Town
Love is not conditioned to people only. Strong emotional feelings attach people to certain places.. I am fond of Down Town. I so much like Talaat Harb, Bab al-louq, Abdeen and el-Sayida.. Also Tahrir, Munira, and Qasr el-Ainy.. Ohhhh how I miss tea from the hands of Am Saied at al-Nadwa al Thaqafya cafe.. and Salaby’s dishes, or even Momen and the croquet monsieur sandwich, and orange juice from the Costa close to AUC when I get lost in time with my blog - thanks to their WiFi.

Towards the end of the night, I go to the newspaper stand located in Mansur Street to spend the rest of the evening with newspapers

I miss my friend Qassas. Mohammed al-Qassas is a big heart and the most dear and precious among the Brothers and friends. When he was imprisoned, I couldn’t imagine a day would pass without seeing him. To the extent that I repeatedly pulled out his number on my cell phone and dialed only to receive a recorded message his phone is off, then I remember he is in prison and I can not talk to him. But at least there were chances I would visit him in prison.

When I was arrested I partially comforted myself that I will be in Torah Mazra’a prison with him. But as part of State Security arrogance, they separated us and I went to the dirtiest prison in Egypt: Mahkoum.

I miss you Yabo Qasakis [nickname for Qassas]

Sarah, Anas, Salman, Habiba and Ayman Abdel Ghany who was lately referred to a military tribunal. Ayman is an old cell-mate. We were imprisoned together for the first time ever in my life in 2003, then again in 2006. Engineer Ayman is senior and gracious yet with a baby’s heart. He loves his brothers very much and had really dedicated himself, household and his wife to serve us during our imprisonment. He used to send his kids play with me and my mother so he could have some quiet time with his wife during the prison-visit.

In prison, I got so attached to his kids starting from the naughty Sarah, passing by Anas and Salman, and finally Habiba who is two years old. Lately when I met Salman he asked me “why aren’t you with daddy in prison?” because this is where he used to see me.

Salman, here I am inside a prison again, but this time not with your dad so I won’t see you. I miss you so much.

Brotherhood of the Blogs
Maybe Brothers started blogging very late, yet in a short time they presented themselves and their ideas elegantly.

They introduced a human face for the Muslim Brotherhood group and announced their affiliation with guts and freedom. I hope this experience is growing more and more, especially for the Ensa blog which managed to compete with main-stream-media in covering the military tribunals, and also the young men and women running the blogs against military rule: Saad, Khadiga, Asmaa, Bilal, Al Shosha, and Moa’az

Also young Brotherhood Bloggers?? Ibn Taag, Sout Asfoura, Lisan Molotov, Yalla Mish Mohim, and Ibn Khaldun. You guys have become the new generation of the Brotherhood and have become responsible to show the human face of the group. A bold generation that will carry the burden of reform in this country.

I love you Egypt
Despite all what happened from prison, torture, corruption and poverty; I am still in love with you Egypt. I might have thought of leaving you but I can never hate you.

I love you Egypt and I want you free. I will continue to blog, write, and demonstrate until you are set-free.

Translated from Arabic by Nora Younis