Egypt: Imprisoned Conscientious Objector and Critic of the Military Maikel Nabil Sanad needs your support

by Connection e.V., War Resisters‘ International and DFG-VK Hesse

(24.06.2011) Maikel Nabil Sanad is a conscientious objector, a critic of the military and a blogger. On 10 April 2011 he was sentenced by an Egyptian military court to three years imprisonment for reporting about ongoing human rights violations and political influence of Egyptian military during, and after the revolution (...more). The prison sentence was pronounced in absence of his lawyer, friends and family.

The trial against Maikel Nabil Sanad violates several basic human rights: The freedom of opinion and expression; and the right to a fair trial according to article 14 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The newly approved interim Constitution in Egypt also guarantees the right to freedom of expression and to freedom of the press.

"Maikel Nabil Sanad was trying to deconstruct the myth that the army stands and stood with the people of Egypt during the revolution", declared the solidarity group Free Maikel Nabil. "The army actively arrested and tortured opposition activists, and this continues to this day. Sadly, his own arrest only proves his point."

Connection e.V., War Resisters’ International, and DFG-VK Hesse call for the support of Maikel Nabil Sanad. To this end, they have started an online campaign to send him solidarity postcards and letters. “Every letter signifies important support in prison“, Rudi Friedrich from Connection e.V. declared today. “Every letter signifies a protest against the military as well, and in this way also a form of protection.”

Please write to Maikel Nabil Sanad. You can send your message to Maikel Nabil Sanad through our online campaign at www.Connection-eV.org/en_aktion-egypt.php. We will then forward the message for you. Letters can also be sent directly to: Maikel Nabil Sanad, El-Marg prison, El-Kalag, El-Khanka, Qalyubeya, Egypt.

Protest against the Egyptian government. You also can send a protest eMail to the Egyptian Minister of Defense through the online campaign.

Connection e.V., War Resisters‘ International and DFG-VK Hesse: Press Release, June 24, 2011.

Keywords:    ⇒ Maikel Nabil Sanad