News on Mohammed via his brother — he’s no longer in Borg al-Arab, the “Egyptian Guantanamo.” He has been moved to a prison in Mansoura, closer to home, and there’s apparently negotiation over whether he’ll be able to take his exams. His brother will visit him Monday.
Good news!
Celebrate by calling your Senator or Congressperson and asking them to support Mohammed’s release. Ask them to call the State Department and the Embassy — or you can call them directly:
State department Egypt desk Larry Cohen (202) 647 4680, cohenle@state.gov
American Embassy Egypt political officer Ed White, +2 012 219 1768, WhiteEA@state.gov
Fax a letter to the Egyptian interior minister, the one who ordered Mohammed’s detention:
His Excellency Habib al-Adly
Interior Minister
Al-Sheikh Rihan St.
Bab Al-Louk, Al-Tahrir
Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt
Fax: 002 022 579-2031
What to say:
Mohammed Maree (pronouned mar-EYE) is an Egyptian student journalist in prison in Egypt for helping an American journalist. James Buck, a UC Berkeley graduate journalism student was detained in Egypt for taking photos at a protest (you may have seen an article about how Twitter helped him get help: http://tinyurl.com/5cq7zs , http://del.icio.us/jamesbuck/jamesbuck). UC and the US embassy helped him get out within 24 hours, but his Egyptian translator Mohammed, is still in jail. He has been on hunger strike twice, close to death, and has told his lawyers he was tortured by electric shock, a common method in Egyptian prisons.
Why care about an Egyptian prisoner?
- He was arrested because he worked for an American, and since he had help from his government, they took their anger at the American out on them.
- He was arrested for doing journalism, and protecting journalism around the world is a vital guarantor of freedom
- Egypt is the 2nd largest recipient of US foreign aid! This aid was, until recently, contingent upon human rights improvements. Condolezza Rice lifted Congress’s conditions on the aid.
- President Bush recently addressed Egypt and the Middle East, saying “America is deeply concerned about the plight of political prisoners in this region, as well as democratic activists who are intimidated or repressed, newspapers and civil society organization that are shut down and dissidents whose voices are stifled.â€
- Mohammed is a 23 year old student whose family is devastated. He’s been tortured, humiliated, beaten, and barred from taking his university exams.
Egypt has a widely-criticized human rights record: http://tinyurl.com/4wfqfs
The Committee to Protect Journalists has called for his release: http://tinyurl.com/3hgase
We’re so close!! Please push now and help Mohammed go home to his family
Mabrouk Mabrouk Mabrouk… The Mahalla 3 are home with their families at 3arabawy
on May 31st, 2008
@ 5:05 pm:
[...] Maree was transferred yesterday, according to a phone call from Socialist lawyer Ahmad Ezzat and a blog posting by Buck, to the Mansoura Prison, where he’ll be allowed to take the rest of his university exams. [...]
Vicki Walker
on Jun 5th, 2008
@ 7:09 am:
James, I am a volunteer radio host in kC on a community station – KKFI 90.1 FM – I do a show on media – good bad and the worse. Freedom of speech, stories not covered by lamestream press, etc. I would love to have you on the show for a few minutes to talk about Mohammed and how Kansas Citians can help. My show is 30 minutes, so it would be a blitz interview.
Let me know.
VIcki
vwatsonwalker@gmail.com
Kelsey
on Jun 5th, 2008
@ 7:14 am:
Thanks for posting this. I just sent off the letter you recommended. As a journalist who often relies on the kindness of translators, I hope Mohammed is released soon.
Melly
on Jun 5th, 2008
@ 9:14 am:
You have my support and sent emails to both. I’ll try to spread word as well. I pray he’s released soon!
God bless,
Melly
Jen
on Jun 5th, 2008
@ 10:56 am:
Hi James,
I just called Larry Cohen and left a message on Mohammed’s behalf. Please keep us updated when you have any news! I’m very much hoping for his release….
-Jen
Pam W
on Jun 5th, 2008
@ 12:17 pm:
I called Larry Cohen’s office and left a message asking for him to help with Mohammed’s release.
Thank you James for showing the world how to do the right thing. So few stay true to their core believes when it gets tough. I admire what you are doing. I hope to read soon that Mohammed has been release.
-Pam
Sue W
on Jun 6th, 2008
@ 5:45 am:
Has this case been forwarded to an human rights groups such as Amnesty International? I am new at following this case. I will forward this information to my local group here in So. MA. We have done actions like this before.
Erle Carey
on Jun 6th, 2008
@ 7:04 am:
Please get Maree freed. This is an injustice to all mankind. I am trying to find a bit of compassion from the Arab religion but it seems nearly impossibe. hey seem to taunt us and defy any sense of morality.
Again, please help aquire his release.
Lisa Foster
on Jun 6th, 2008
@ 8:18 am:
James, Here is General Habib Ibrahim El Adly’s email address so people can send email to him: Moi1@idsc.gov.eg
btw, he is married and has one child, so perhaps he can be appealed to as a parent.
Sam
on Jun 20th, 2008
@ 4:58 am:
How did the story go on since then??
Kazelghk
on Jul 8th, 2008
@ 4:07 pm:
Hi webmaster!
!immumurfageni!
on Nov 3rd, 2008
@ 9:51 am:
Do you like ?
What is your favour ?
Specializes in quality ?
Don’t kick me in the nuts!
Chloe - Classified Ads
on Dec 3rd, 2008
@ 7:25 am:
thank Heaven! i wish Mohammed had never been in prison but if it’s inevitable it’s better to be closer to home for him… i’m galed to read these news. you know, this calling action must be a successfull idea
Isabella - Familienrecht Rechtsanwalt Stuttgart
on Dec 26th, 2008
@ 4:12 am:
yeah Chloe! I fully agree with you on that point ! if there’s no other choice it’s better to stay closer to home! but i hope everything wil come to an end soon!