24 November, 2006



I’m not shocked coz I know we are in the Arab World where the Freedom of expression & liberty don’t exist & will never exist.

Months ago, I came across a blog of an egyption blogger. Very controversial views & rebellious to the core against all social & some religious norms. He had that stored anger against culture & anything related to Islam. I just felt sorry for him and for the society that produces frustrated generations without recognized rights nor freedom of speech.
They are oppressed religiously & physiologically. I’m not defending his personal opinions but I am with the freedom of speech!

Just today I knew that the guy was arrested long time ago for his views…..when we say we wanna migrate they ask us why!

What’s the value of life if others will impose their religious beliefs & lifestyles on each other? You can’t criticize the religion, the government, the ruler, the culture, the society…u can’t complain nor voice ur opinions…

The phenomenon of detaining bloggers known for controversial views is so common nowadays! Blocking their blogs is of course the easiest way!
Censorship, red lines, taboos, list of do & don’t!

I was about to post something about women in Saudi Arabia….I’m not sure if I will do so. They try to scare youth so they don’t dare to open their mouth. I have many topics on mind to blog about but I don’t want the blog to be blocked! Its bugs me to feel restrained from expressing my ideas on my blog! May be I need some courage to go a step further.

Kareem,
Although I disagree with some of your views. Go man you have all my support. They are talking about modern & free societies in time they don’t have an idea what freedom of expression is!

Do what you can to make a difference. Support him!

Sign the petition
http://www.hamsaweb.com/c2/home.php?id=Kareem2

& here is the link of the website dedicated to the campaign to free Kareem
http://www.freekareem.org/

No one deserves to be insulted or abused physically or physiologically due to his /her beliefs & views. Arabs please wake up!


27 comments:

bklyn_in_dubai said...

hey,

what's with the big yellow stripe on the left that blocks off a decent portion of your blog? can you remove it? i want to read what you have to say!

The Ego said...

^^Ditto... I blindly copied everything, then pasted it in Word to read... sooo pllleeeaaassseee remove the big block of orange!!!

Ok, about the post... It's damn sad that they had to arrest a guy for speaking freely about his views.
Reminds me of a quote that went something like: "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it." or something along those lines...
I feel that by restricting ppl's thoughts to conform to those of the society in question either leads to boring like-minded ppl (coz face it, difference among ppl is what makes life more interesting) or suppressed ppl who'll just pine their life away.

I guess that when you decide to blog about something controversial and if you get blocked...don't worry, I can still read it ;)

Me said...

this is a test comment, lets see if it works out!

Eric said...

Excellent post and really great that you have spoken so freely. It would be great to see women bloggers all over the world citing this day.

I'm surprised I haven't been bloked yet after my post on Saudi men and AIDS. Gees, I guess it is only a matter of time.

The worst part is, most of us blog with a good intention, hoping for change and for the best for the very same countries we criticize.

But any criticism is almost blasphemy in some eyes.

Destitute Rebel said...

Its surprising how in this day and age, governments still think they can infringe on our freedom of expression. There are ways around everything. some harder to face then others. when someone writes their mind on blogs they are first blocked by the sensors and if they find a way around they are harrased just the way you mentioned. Like you said there are so many thing one wants to write about but one doesnt for many reasons, we have started self sensoring what we write because we know what will happen if we don't.

Abed. Hamdan said...

kareem was not arrested for his blog, he was arrested for writing something against Al-Azhar university, and he is a student at that university who has been dismissed

Eric said...

This is very scary, yet enlightening for some of us outside of your community. I do hope for you that you are able to express yourselves as you wish.

Eric said...

P.S. I notice you have me listed in your Colleagues links (thank you), but not sure you have the right link to my blog. The best address to use would be:

http://www.parisdailyphoto.blogspot.com

Thanks again!

Asrar El Banat said...

I encourage you to speak your mind..we all should..
If we wont try 2 change our community now, we'll soon be too old & too worn out..
Dont let fear get u.
Speak out.
& ur welcome to send us & we'll post your stories on our blog too :)

Mala2e6 said...

so blogs can be blocked? this is the first time i hear such thing.

so much for the freedom of speech!!

Me said...

Wainek ya Hiba?

Anonymous said...

Great post and greater position heba. Thank you!

Abed, you said "kareem was not arrested for his blog, he was arrested for writing something against Al-Azhar university, and he is a student at that university who has been dismissed" so is that a justification?! I do not get it.

I believe that freedom of speech should not have any red lines. People can be arrested for actions against the law but not for their opinions or belief. Even if they promote illegal things and call for making it legal that should be legal as long as they do not act on it till it become the well of the majority and become legal. That is how people change laws and develop.(I hope what I say is clear cause I can not understand it myself :) )


Back to the red lines. I believe that the source of restrictions in our societies is religion and its teachings as we understand it. I will not argue whether that is the true Islam or not, what matters most is that is the Islam according to the majority not only today but in history as well.

What do you think? do you believe that Islam according to the majority of scholars allows freedom of speech or not? what about 7ad (punishment) of converts from islam? what about forcing non Dhimi (like hindus) to convert? What about the right of man to punish his wife by hitting her (but not hard) as mentioned in Quran? Are governments the source of restriction or religion implant anti-freedom in our minds and make it easy for governments to extend it to new limits and to add more red lines?



Sorry for not publishing my name, I did not register yet, I will do soon.

Thanks heba again for opening such an important discussion.

clayfuture said...

December is the month of love?

clayfuture said...

But why december?

Anonymous said...

hi how r u?

forgive me hiba for posting this here...
I can't sign in to my own blog I just don't know why...
I can post comment in my blog but not mine..
this site http://beta.blogger.com/
is not orking anymore..it gives the following error:

The page cannot be displayed...
does anyone knows why?

thanks
Jumana

Anonymous said...

correction:

I can post a cooment in your blog but not mine...
actually, I can post comments in some blogs not all..(I am talking about blogs under blogger.com)

tomoe said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Me said...

Hiba..wainek?

Dino$ said...

dina ana?

Weinik ya bint!

very nice post, you adressed so many topics in one.

Tainted said...

Good suff, keep it up.

What's with the hiding? Join us at www.globalthemes.blogspot.com

Stained said...

hmm....good post
restricting people's views is common here..nothing can be done about it...till some revolutionary change happens in the system here....which is highly unlikely...

Anonymous said...

Free yourselves from the death cult called Islam,Then women can truly be free

Arab Lady said...

i will free myself from muslims and culture but not Islam....dunno if u got my point