By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Egypt’s IDA gears up to provide its services for investors online
    Egypt’s IDA gears up to provide its services for investors online 
    March 29, 2023
    Egypt. Germany discuss promotion of cooperation in communications, digital transformation
    Egypt, Germany discuss promotion of cooperation in communications, digital transformation
    March 29, 2023
    Egypt-Australia trade exchange reaches AUD 1bn in FY2022: Ambassador
    Egypt-Australia trade exchange reaches AUD 1bn in FY2022: Ambassador
    March 29, 2023
    Volatile trading on EGX amid anticipation of interest rate movement
    Volatile trading on EGX amid anticipation of interest rate movement
    March 29, 2023
    Mohamed Nasr El-Din appointed as new CEO of Telecom Egypt
    Mohamed Nasr El-Din appointed as new CEO of Telecom Egypt
    March 29, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Formes US President Donald Trump Is Indicted in New York
    Trump indicted in hush-money payment case
    March 31, 2023
    Humza Yousaf is to be the first minister of Scotland after narrowly winning the election for leader of the Scottish National Party
    Humza Yousaf becomes Scotland’s first minister: A decade of polls suggest he’ll struggle to deliver independence, just like Nicola Sturgeon
    March 30, 2023
    Iranian FM says Tehran, Moscow taking final step toward signing long-term cooperation agreement
    Iranian FM says Tehran, Moscow taking final step toward signing long-term cooperation agreement
    March 29, 2023
    Health Minister, UNODC discuss bilateral cooperation in combating drugs, corruption
    Health Minister, UNODC discuss bilateral cooperation in combating drugs, corruption
    March 29, 2023
    UAE President appoints Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
    UAE President appoints Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
    March 29, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    Developers have to offer innovative products, state should provide more facilities to stimulate industry: Kareem Mamoun
    Developers have to offer innovative products, state should provide more facilities to stimulate industry: Kareem Mamoun
    March 27, 2023
    Government should help Egyptian arts revive its pioneering role: Omar Abdel Aziz
    Government should help Egyptian arts revive its pioneering role: Omar Abdel Aziz
    March 15, 2023
    Interconnected healthcare systems in Africa require political will from North African leaders: Amref official
    Interconnected healthcare systems in Africa require political will from North African leaders: Amref official
    March 12, 2023
    EGX ready for government’s IPOs programme: Chairperson
    EGX ready for government’s IPOs programme: Chairperson
    February 15, 2023
    British International Investment invests $4.5bn in 700 businesses across Africa: Sherine Shohdy
    February 15, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: Alber Saber’s case: A litmus test for freedom of expression
Share
Notification
Latest News
Formes US President Donald Trump Is Indicted in New York
Trump indicted in hush-money payment case
Politics
Humza Yousaf is to be the first minister of Scotland after narrowly winning the election for leader of the Scottish National Party
Humza Yousaf becomes Scotland’s first minister: A decade of polls suggest he’ll struggle to deliver independence, just like Nicola Sturgeon
Politics Opinion
Egypt’s IDA gears up to provide its services for investors online
Egypt’s IDA gears up to provide its services for investors online 
Business
Iranian FM says Tehran, Moscow taking final step toward signing long-term cooperation agreement
Iranian FM says Tehran, Moscow taking final step toward signing long-term cooperation agreement
Politics World
Egypt. Germany discuss promotion of cooperation in communications, digital transformation
Egypt, Germany discuss promotion of cooperation in communications, digital transformation
Business
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Opinion > Alber Saber’s case: A litmus test for freedom of expression
Opinion

Alber Saber’s case: A litmus test for freedom of expression

Shahira Amin
Last updated: 2012/12/19 at 5:29 PM
By Shahira Amin 6 Min Read
Share
Shahira Amin
Shahira Amin
SHARE
Shahira Amin
Shahira Amin

27 year-old blogger Alber Saber has been temporarily released on bail pending an appeal of his 12 December conviction. The former Coptic Christian, who has declared himself an atheist, was arrested three months ago on charges of blasphemy and contempt of religion.

His arrest came after his neighbours accused him of circulating a YouTube trailer for the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims on his Facebook page. Despite a lack of evidence against him, he has been sentenced to three years in prison.

During a wave of angry protests denouncing the amateur film deemed offensive to Islam, a crowd of bearded men had surrounded Saber’s home, calling for his death for his “heresy.” When Saber’s mother called the police for protection, the last thing she expected was that her son would be arrested instead of the attackers. She was forced to flee her home after the crowd threatened to burn down the house and has not been able to return since.

I met Saber last Sunday in the Fifth Settlement Court where he had gone to sign papers to appeal his case. His face was drawn and haggard but he was in high spirits after learning that he would be released the following day. Saber was handcuffed but that did not stop him flashing the victory sign. “Freedom comes at a high price,” he said.

The price for Saber’s freedom has been 90 days spent in a tiny cockroach-infested cell at Tora Prison, without light or fresh air. He also had a close brush with death when fellow inmates at El-Marg Prison (where he was initially imprisoned following his arrest) attacked him with a razor after learning about his lack of belief. Saber unzipped his white prison track suit to show me the brown scar still visible on his neck. He said that it would be a constant reminder of his ordeal.

In deeply conservative Egypt, the “A” word has always been taboo: Atheists are tolerated as long as they do not try to promulgate their views. Saber however, challenged the status quo. Not only had he administered a Facebook page for Egyptian atheists “promoting his extremist thoughts,” but he had also insulted “prophets and God himself ,” according to the prosecution.

Police who arrested him at his home on 13 September confiscated his computer and found comparative religion material on his bookshelf. Ahmed Ezzat, Saber’s lawyer, insists that his client did not post the offensive video and is “innocent of the charges.”

He suspects that Alber’s case was “simply an attempt to defuse people’s anger over the anti-Islam film.”

Saber’s case has raised concerns over freedom of expression in Egypt, post revolution. The draft constitution that has now been put to a popular referendum limits religious freedom to followers of the three Abrahamic faiths.

Moreover, the document stipulates that “religious practices are allowed as long as they do not disturb public order.” It also bans “insulting prophets” — a prohibition that analysts say may “open the door to arrests of bloggers and activists.’

Saber regrets that he was unable to vote “No” on the constitution as the referendum was held while he was still behind bars. If passed, he said, the new constitution will consolidate power for the Muslim Brotherhood and will “limit freedom of expression.”

Saber’s case has also prompted protest from several human rights advocates and groups. Amnesty International has criticised Saber’s detention arguing that he had simply been “peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.” Reporters Without Borders has condemned the arrest as “a form of censorship”.

Saber’s mother, Kariman Meseeha, who was with him in court, fears that Christians, who make up an estimated 12 percent of the population, are being increasingly targeted under the Islamist government. She argued that unlike her son, Abu Islam—a radical Muslim cleric who had burnt a copy of the Bible during a rally protesting the anti-Islam film last September—had not been arrested pending his investigation.

Meseeha also cited the case of Bishoy Kamel, a Christian school teacher from the southern city of Sohag who was sentenced to six years in prison in September for posting cartoons online deemed offensive to Islam.

Two Coptic children have also been detained in a juvenile correction centre on blasphemy charges. She believes “political activism” was the real reason behind her son’s arrest, recalling that “state security officers had paid a dawn visit in January and ransacked our home.”

In the current political impasse, the case of Alber Saber is a litmus test for freedoms in the new Egypt. The young “prisoner of conscience” will appeal his case next month. The final verdict will not only determine Saber’s fate, it will also be telling of the level of freedom Egyptians can enjoy in their country, post-revolution.

President Morsy recently told Time Magazine that there can be no stability without freedom, democracy and equality. Whether or not he is truly committed to upholding these ideals remains to be seen.

You Might Also Like

Humza Yousaf becomes Scotland’s first minister: A decade of polls suggest he’ll struggle to deliver independence, just like Nicola Sturgeon

Opinion| 20 years after the US invaded Iraq: Did Washington lose trillions of dollars in the war?

Opinion| The Russian-Chinese summit and the new multilateral world

Israel’s military reservists are joining protests – potentially transforming a political crisis into a security crisis

China’s latest diplomatic move will extend its trade, energy, financial and maritime power

TAGGED: atheism, DNE, expression, opinion, religion, shahira amin
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
By Shahira Amin
Shahira Amin is an award-winning freelance journalist and former Deputy Head of Nile TV. She quit her job at the height of last year's uprising in Tahrir Square in protest at State TV's biased coverage of the revolution. Amin is also a longtime contributor to CNN International.
Previous Article Consumer confidence down by 4.1 per cent
Next Article Editor’s letter: Tamkeen At-Tamkeen and the Islamists’ escalations
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

Formes US President Donald Trump Is Indicted in New York
Trump indicted in hush-money payment case
Politics
Humza Yousaf is to be the first minister of Scotland after narrowly winning the election for leader of the Scottish National Party
Humza Yousaf becomes Scotland’s first minister: A decade of polls suggest he’ll struggle to deliver independence, just like Nicola Sturgeon
Politics Opinion
Egypt’s IDA gears up to provide its services for investors online
Egypt’s IDA gears up to provide its services for investors online 
Business
Iranian FM says Tehran, Moscow taking final step toward signing long-term cooperation agreement
Iranian FM says Tehran, Moscow taking final step toward signing long-term cooperation agreement
Politics World
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?