CAIRO: Jailed Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad began a hunger strike on Tuesday in protest against his continued imprisonment. Sanad is also reportedly refusing to take his medication, without which his health could be at risk. The 25-year-old began the hunger strike in protest against his continued imprisonment at al-Marg Prison in Qalyubiya governorate, north of Cairo. Some 10,000 Egyptians have been tried by military courts since the armed forces were deployed in Egypt on January 28, Amnesty International reported. “While some of those who were tried in military courts have been released on suspended sentences, no date for Maikel Nabil Sanad's appeal has been scheduled,” added the London-based rights organization. Sanad was arrested on March 28 from his home in Cairo and charged with publicly insulting the army through comments he made on Facebook, and with “spreading lies and rumors about the armed forces on his blog.” On his blog, he describes his days inside military barracks in preparation for joining the military service (he was later exempted for health reasons); his conscientious objection to military service; his arrest, detention and torture by the military in February and his criticism of the use of force by the military against peaceful protesters in Tahrir Square. He was tried in a military court and sentenced to three years in jail on April 10. When his lawyers and family arrived at the court that day to attend his court hearing they were informed that it had been postponed. However, they later learned that it had actually taken place without any of them being present. Sanad's family has told Amnesty International that they are extremely worried about his health as he has a heart and blood pressure condition which requires daily medication. They reported that when Sanad was first arrested he was not allowed any visits from his family and lawyers. He also did not receive adequate medical attention and his health deteriorated, leading him to lose consciousness on one occasion. Sanad had been arrested on two previous occasions. He was detained briefly in November 2010 after posting a statement in favor of conscientious objection on his website. In early February 2011 he was arrested on his way to a protest and was detained for two days before being released. “Amnesty International believes he is a prisoner of conscience detained solely for exercising his legitimate right to freedom of expression,” said the rights organization. BM
