Egyptian man beaten for blogging

Oriana Robertson
4:00pm

Kareem Amer was scheduled to be released today from his 2006 sentencing. His offense? Blogging. The then 22 year old law student was expelled from the Al-Ahzar University for blog entries and posts on websites responding to the political and religious status of his country, Egypt. Specifically, Amer questioned and criticized Islam in response to a group who he perceived to be religious extremists at his university. He promoted gender equality in his posts regularly and challenged some of the other non-secular teachings of Islam. He criticized the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak. He was held in solitary confinement for four months and has been subjected to regular beating, even today. Watchdog groups have reported that authorities have moved Amer to another prison on Saturday after refusing to release him after his scheduled date. There, he was again beaten and harassed by prison officials.

Police aggression is a controversial matter in most if not all nations. The actions of police are going under immense criticism for their actions on controversial matters like race, politics, and religion. A great deal of the Islamic nations are experiencing growing pains as the “west” becomes more and more influential and a neo-modern generation arises. A generation with a voice and a generation with more efficient ways to communicate: technology, are making way. Amer was able to state his opinions more efficiently and to a wider audience without immediate persecution. The abandonment of his family, and the response of the police with harassment, ridicule, and brutality demonstrate some of the intolerance to change and differing opinions in what some may call a strict and closely regulated environment. This kind of police brutality in addition to his arrest at all was unreasonable and violated his rights as a free human being.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/10/police-beat-detain-egyptian-blogger-watchdogs-say/?iref=allsearch