[Illirmpipse]

As one of the more liberal nations in the mid-East, this is very worrying. Where will it end though? What's to stop similar laws from being enacted in the West? Does that mean a member of this Forum who lives in Egypt who posts a comment on this site that someone in his/her government doesn't agree with, is liable for imprisonment? This is very serious stuff!

Egyptian blogger gets 4 years in prison - Yahoo! News

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt - An Egyptian blogger was convicted Thursday and sentenced to four years in prison for insulting Islam and Egypt's president, sending a chill through fellow Internet writers who fear a government crackdown.

Abdel Kareem Nabil, a 22-year-old former student at Egypt's Al-Azhar University, had been a vocal secularist and sharp critic of conservative Muslims in his blog. He often lashed out at Al-Azhar — the most prominent religious center in Sunni Islam — calling it "the university of terrorism" and accusing it of encouraging extremism.

[jinnamys]

As one of the more liberal nations in the mid-East, this is very worrying. Where will it end though? What's to stop similar laws from being enacted in the West? Does that mean a member of this Forum who lives in Egypt who posts a comment on this site that someone in his/her government doesn't agree with, is liable for imprisonment? This is very serious stuff!

Considering he was "insulting" Islam was the reason why he was jailed, even if Egypt is one of the more moderate states in the ME. But in Europe, one can also get jailed for denying the Holocaust. And you are worried?

[24MurinivaMak]

It's so wrong. It's alarming. And I'm really discouraged to hear this.

[rsdefwgxvcfdts]

Here is an e-mail petition (translated) to sign and send, asking for the release of this blogger.
Translated version of http://karam903.blogspot.com/

[Helloheshess]

Let alone every country, every community has it's own laws and expectations that are taken for granted and considered "commonly usual" by the population that enforce it.

A post yesterday informed of the beheading of four Sri Lankans who were convicted of armed robbery, auto theft and murder in Saudia Arabia
http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/brea...eheadings.html
I wouldn't expect anything less to be honest, that's the way the ball bounces over there.

The same goes for our Egyptian Blogger - blogging shit out of your country and religion, while in Egypt is suicide. He's lucky he got four years of torture ahead of him.

The Bill also makes reservations for incidents that degrade America or it's system.

[Nosmas]

It's a real indication of just how endangered the rulers of Egpyt feel they are...chasing bloggers. Pathetic.

[Helloheshess]

It's a real indication of just how endangered the rulers of Egpyt feel they are...chasing bloggers. Pathetic.

Again a community thing, if it (blogging content) happened in the US or Australia people would just shrug their shoulders. However, in a country where the rulers are the only media that can report on domestic issues, I think it's fair to compare it to a soldiers AWOL. You are subject to getting shot by your own people.

Like Ata, many radicals were products of thought censorship in Egypt

[corolaelwis]

Noa, Egypt isn't a more liberal state in the ME, its more moderate than the other nations. Its not more secular an therefore insulting Islam is still something that isn't allowed. The opposition in the ME, the Muslim Brotherhood re even more conservative than Mubarrak's lot and they actually believe in Sharrialaw, so being outspoken of the government is one thing but let's hope there isn't a revolution an the MM end up taking over the country.

[Heliosprime]

China regularly shuts down blogs that are ‘dissenters’ regards the regime…. They imprison falun gong proponents etc..They don’t allow the catholic church to choose their own Bishops etc….

so why is this anymore alarming?

[Biassasecumma]

Egypt is "moderate" because of...what?
Explain to me how Egypt is moderate....

They have "hate" schools like other M.E. countries have
The imprison people for both political and religious reasons (obviously)
Numerous terrorist are FROM Egypt.
Egyptian terrorist have carried out attacks like ones from Saudi Arabia.

How is this moderate??

[jinnamys]

Egypt is "moderate" because of...what?
Explain to me how Egypt is moderate....

They have "hate" schools like other M.E. countries have
The imprison people for both political and religious reasons (obviously)
Numerous terrorist are FROM Egypt.
Egyptian terrorist have carried out attacks like ones from Saudi Arabia.

How is this moderate??

The madrases that you are speaking of are not government, but private schools operated by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Egypt has made peace with Israel via the Camp David Accords, Mubarak has the economy more capitalized than what Sedat envisioned, women can wear western clothing, etc. In all, it is moderate in many aspects. It still has hate groups the same way the US has hate groups too.

[ballingham]

China regularly shuts down blogs that are ‘dissenters’ regards the regime…. They imprison falun gong proponents etc..They don’t allow the catholic church to choose their own Bishops etc….

so why is this anymore alarming?

And Republicans and Wal-Mart loves them.