Egyptian pacifist jailed
Maikel Nabil Sanad imprisoned for 'insulting the military'
Peace and human rights campaigners have expressed dismay at the news that an Egyptian pacifist has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for ‘insulting the military’. Maikel Nabil Sanad was active in the recent Egyptian revolution and published an article criticising the armed forces’ role in the event (see ‘Conscientious objectors appear in court’, 8 April).
A military court has convicted him of publishing ‘false news’ about the armed forces, in a decision criticised by the Quaker United Nations Office and War Resisters International (WRI).
WRI say that Maikel Nabil Sanad’s friends, relatives and supporters were told by officials that the trial had been postponed, keeping them away from court at the time that he was being sentenced.
This is not Maikel Nabil Sanad’s first imprisonment. As the founder of the ‘No to Compulsory Military Service’ movement, he was frequently harassed by the authorities under the Mubarak regime for his pacifist activities.
‘To try a civilian in a military court is against all international human rights standards,’ insisted Andreas Speck of WRI. ‘If the authorities want to put Maikel Nabil Sanad on trial – for which there is no reason whatsoever – they should do so in front of a civilian criminal court.’
Comments
As satisfied as I am that the sclerotic Mubarak regieme has been removed and facing judicial investigation, it should be emphasized that poor Maikel contines to be targetted by a system which we’re told is distinct in that it rejects American-control. Furthermore, for those Friends who’d endorse Vittorio Arigoni’s views - speparate from rejection of his murder, which we all should reject - here is what he said on poor Maikel’s conviction: >> No, habibi, you’re not a spy. You’re a traitor. http://twitter.com/VikUtopia/status/57976371967819776 That said day, he - VA - was abducted by Gazan Islamists, including Hamas Policemen, and lynched. ~alec
By A Mac G on 5th May 2011 - 23:29
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