The C.R.I.M.E. Report

ISSUE #12 CONTENTS:


SPOTLIGHT CASES:

Special Report: A Visit to Kareem in Prison

Egyptian journalist Magdy Samaan provided the following report on his
recent visit with Kareem Amer:

The Borj Al Arab prison complex is one of the largest in Egypt. It is
so crowded that some prisoners have to sleep on the floor, with barely
a foot of personal space. One of the most prominent people held inside
the jail is Kareem Amer, the student from Alexandria who is serving a
four-year sentence for "insulting religions" and "defaming Egypt's
president" on his blog.

I went to visit Kareem with his lawyer and a small group of
journalists, including a reporter from Al Jazeera. After we were
searched, we entered the prisoners meeting space and waited for half
an hour. Kareem finally came into the room, wearing a blue prison
jumpsuit with a worn blue t-shirt underneath. Under the watchful eyes
of the guards, Kareem's lawyer, Gamal Eid, updated him on the latest
developments on his case.

In a balanced and courageous tone, Kareem described the beating he
experienced from a fellow prisoner and showed where his tooth had been broken. Kareem is no longer being held in the political prisoners
section, but in the petty criminals' pavilion. He complained about his
mistreatment at the hands of the prison authorities, saying: "When
they see that something gives me comfort, they deprive me of it."

Still, Kareem has managed to build a good relationship with fellow
prisoners. Kareem reports that he spends his time reading and writing
articles. He uses these articles as a form of release and to relate
his experience in prison. After 30 minutes, the guard announced the
close of the meeting. We told Kareem that many bloggers and activists
around the world support him. Kareem hugged us. Then we parted.



Banned at the Book Fair: The Jailhouses of Algiers

Last month, attendees at the 12th Annual Algiers Book Fair witnessed a blunt violation of free expression. The fair’s organizers suddenly approached the display stand of Algerian publisher INAS just before a book signing by author Mohamed Benchicou. The booth was dismantled and all books confiscated. The only way INAS could re-open its stand, the organizers explained, was to remove Benchicou’s book from their display. INAS boldly refused and withdrew from the fair.

What was all the fuss about? The book fair flap was simply the latest chapter in the Algerian government’s on-going attempt to silence one of the country’s most influential independent journalists. In 2004, police arrested Mohamed Benchicou for “violating capital movement laws.”  This bizarre jail sentence suspiciously coincided with the publication of his first book, Bouteflika, an Algerian Imposter, a scathing analysis of Algeria’s President. With Benchicou locked up, the government took over his independent newspaper, Le Matin.

Now, the showdown with Benchicou is over his new book, entitled Les Geoles d’Alger (The Jailhouses of Algiers). Based on the author’s experiences during his two-year stay at El Harrach prison from 2004-2006, the book is a testimony to the hardships independent journalists face and the high price of independent journalism in Algeria. Still, despite numerous attempts to silence him, Benchicou has continued to voice his opinions in the face of naked repression.



Stopping the Buses: Tehran’s Bus Driver Strike

In open societies, unions are a vital independent part of civil society, freely organizing to advocate for the rights of their members. In repressive societies, like Iran, most unions are in fact founded and controlled by the ruling regime. Instead of advancing workers’ rights, unions are used to keep workers in line.

An exception is the Tehran Bus Workers’ Union, founded in 2005 but never recognized by the Iranian regime. Under the daring leadership of Mansour Osanloo, Tehran’s bus drivers organized strikes to demand official recognition. When police arrested Osanloo at a union meeting, the drivers went on strike again, paralyzing the city. Over 500 union members were arrested, and labor unions around the world began solidarity campaigns.

A nonviolent struggle - on the part of the bus drivers - has continued to unfold. Osanloo, who was abused in prison, was released. But rather than lie low, he went on a European speaking tour. After his return to Iran, Osanloo was arrested in July and two months ago was sentenced to five years in prison.

To learn more about this inspiring activist, watch a short film created by the International Transport Federation called “Freedom Will Come: The Story of Mansour Osanloo.” And join the campaign to free Osanloo by signing this petition.

 

CRIME QUIZ: You Can’t Say That on Television
What word did Iran ban from state TV? Hint: “It’s a man’s world.” Two weeks ago, international news outlets reported that the Iranian censor banned a dangerous word from TV broadcast. The word is not vulgar, obscene, nor offensive. It’s simply: “women.” According to Iranian news agencies, the word “women” must now be replaced by “family.” Apparently Iran’s ruling clerics are now married to families.

BECOME A PARTNER IN CRIME:
Here is a list of four quick ways you contribute to the Middle East civil rights movement: