Hany Nazeer, an Egyptian dissident blogger has been freed from prison after 21 months after being charged with insulting Islam. Al Masry al Youm describes Nazeer’s blog as follows.
A blogger from the Upper Egyptian province of Qena, Nazeer was detained in October 2008 shortly after posting a link on his blog–Karez el-Hobb (“Evangelist of Love”)–to a controversial novel entitled Teiss Azazil fi Makka (“The Bull of Azazi in Mecca”). Said to have been written by a seventh century monk, the writer tells the tale of how he had inspired Prophet Mohammed to establish a new religion.
Nazeer’s blog had also contained posts about human rights and Coptic issues. “
The release of Mr. Nazeer is seen as an attempt by the Egyptian government to improve its image abroad in advance of Egyptian presidential Elections, which are slated to take place in 2011. In those elections. Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt since 1981 will be replaced in an election in which his son Gamal Mubarak is seen as a likely successor.
The release of Mr. Nazeer was accompanied by the release of dozens of Bedouin activists and was seen as an attempt to blunt criticism of Egypt’s emergency statutes, which have been instrumental in circumventing due process under Egyptian law in numerous cases.
Nazeer’s blog dealt with sensitive issues, such as the treatment of Egypt’s Coptic Christians and commentary on Islam from a critical perspective. The story he published a “The Bull of Azazi in Mecca” which portrayed Islam as being inspired at its inception by the advice of a 7th century Christian monk. Such portrayals, which clash with the theologically correct version of Islam, are very offensive to conservative sectors of Egyptian society, both at the village grass roots and in some high places.
Egyptian society is divided. There are religious fundamentalists and secularists. There are Christians as well as Bedouins. Even within religious circles are different views on Shaaria law and its role in government. It remains to be seen whether Egypt’s dissidents will be kept on short tether or whether there wil be some degree of free expression and respect for human rights.
Hany Nazeer paid a heavy price for speaking his mind and remaining in Egypt. He surrendered when his brothers were taken hostage by Egyptian authorities with threats to take his sisters into custody as well.. Once imprisoned, he was kept in a cell that was so crowded that it was not possible to sleep lying down.
It is fortunate for Mr Nazeer that his name is known outside Egypt. It is helpful for dissidents in Egypt and elsewhere if their government knows that they are being watched and that outsiders care about those who march to a different drummer.Even with the release of Nazeer and other dissidents, the emergency laws remain in place. Those who are watching Egypt’s human rights situation should not yet relax their vigilance.
Social Media