Reporters Without Borders called for blogger Kareem Amer’s release today. Kareem is entering his sixth week of detention for his views, deemed “un-Islamic” by Al-Azhar University, where he was studying before the administration expelled him, and reported him to the authorities.
Blair meets Al-Azhar Sheikh
The butcher of Kabul and Basra, British PM Tony Blair, was in Cairo on a brief visit last Saturday where he met with Tantawi, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, the Egyptian state’s religious establishment.
Western leaders, known for their anti-Muslim racism like Blair, Nicolas Sarkouzy, and others, have been in the habit of paying visits to the government-friendly Azhar Sheikh whenever they visit Cairo, or have troubles with Muslim Communities in their countries. They can all count on Tantawi’s support, who never lets them down.
Kefaya activist detained
Police detained yesterday Fathi Farid, a student at Al-Azhar and a member of Kefaya’s youth wing, while he was entering the university campus. The University guards took him at the gate to the office of the University Security office, after which he disappeared.
Kefaya learned later he was taken yesterday to the Gamaleya Police Station, and was referred today to the Gamaleya prosecutor’s office, who charged Fathi of agitation for demonstrations on campus.
On another front, the President of Al-Azhar University Ahmad el-Tayyeb defended the kidnapping of 180 MB students from the university dorms. He told Al-Masry Al-Youm security services had been “late and should have detained the Brotherhood activists since the beginning of the semester.” Tayyeb also proudly stated: “I am a man who does not speak in politics. I never joined any student union in my university years, because I believe students should just focus on learning.”
UPDATE: Fathi was released Tuesday morning.