Thursday, February 22, 2007

The Trial of Kareem Amer

It is such a pitiful thing. We may criticise our governments, and chastise our venerable Minister for Justice for his neglect of Human Rights, but we're really not all that badly off.

Kareem Amer, whose real name is Abdel Kareem Soliman, was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison in Egypt yesterday. He was improsoned for three years for 'insulting Islam and inciting sedition', and to one year for insulting President Hosni Mubarak, whom he called a dictator.

Michael McDowell is a mad mullah dictator who oppresses people and should be deposed as Minister for Justice in favour of anyone else. There. I said it.

But there is no courage in rant, no bravery in rage, and no conviction in blogging in a democracy such as the one it is our privilege to inhabit. Sure it's imperfect, but I won't be looking over my shoulder when I pull up outside my house tonight. Even if Michael McDowell is trying to make us think crime is a real issue :)

No comments: