El-Adly Videogate: HRW slams government cover up

Posted on By 3arabawy

The NYC-based rights watchdog slammed the Egyptian regime, in a statement yesterday, for going after Howeida Taha, Al-Jazeera reporter who’s been putting together a documentary on police abuse in Egypt and the Arab World.

“The Egyptian government seems willing to do anything to silence discussion of its torture scandal,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “This reaction makes a mockery of any claims by Egypt to be a government that respects human rights.”

UPDATE: The Committee to Protect Journalists denounced govt intimidation against Howeida…

“This case is a sham and reflects this government’s disdain for critical media,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “We call on the Egyptian authorities to immediately drop charges against Howayda Taha Matwali.”

Support Sarando Peasants

Posted on By 3arabawy

Activists involved in the solidarity with the Sarando peasants (victims of police torture and assaults from NDP-affiliated feudalists) have arranged for buses to be ready, in front of the Lawyers’ Syndicate in Ramses St. at 6 am, to transport any citizen or journalist interested in attending the trial in Damanhour on 22 January.

Peasant Women telling rights activists and journalists about police terror against them

Your presence is IMPORTANT!

Trial date set for blogger Kareem

Posted on By 3arabawy

Egyptian blogger Kareem, who’s been in police custody for two months pending investigation, will show up in Moharram Beik Court Thursday 18 January, to face charges that include: posting articles on the internet deemed “insulting” to the president and the Islamic faith.

For those religious conservatives cheering Kareem’s arrest, and his expulsion from Al-Azhar University for his “anti-Islamic views”… The regime that detained and put Kareem on trial, is the same regime that kidnapped 180 Muslim Brotherhood students from Al-Azhar dorms and has Khairat el-Shatter slowly dying in prison… is the same regime that denies Copts equal treatment as citizens of this country… is the same regime that sodomizes leftists and ordinary citizens… is the same regime that intimidates workers on strikes… is the same regime that tortured and killed the peasants of Sarando.

Wake up! It’s not about liking Kareem’s ideas or not. You cheer Kareem’s persecution today, your turn is coming tomorrow!