“History repeats itself, and just like I refused compulsory military service last year, I boycott this year being tried in front of military officers. “Dear military officers, and I say military officers and not judge, because a judge before anything should have independence as a trait, while military officers are just a part of the executive authority, and that's why you are just an officer and not a judge, regardless of any nicknames, titles and descriptions they ever gave you. “Our revolution served as a defense for freedom, equity, and righteousness, and we have sacrificed before the revolution and after for the endorsement of the state of law. “I am a civilian, and I refuse to be tried in front of a military judiciary or any other exceptional judiciary system, and even any judicature that isn't independent. I refuse to be tried for my beliefs or opinions or for a clearance with me for the sake of fascist intelligence services that don't respect rights. “We were hoping that the army will stand with our revolution and support it, but unfortunately the army chose to suppress our revolution, attack it, and oppress the revolutionaries; and that's why it's obligatory for us as freedom and nation fighters to oppose this, and announce our solidarity with all the detained revolutionaries whether from the civilian or military. “Officer, remember that history only remembers Nelson Mandela, Anwar el-Sadat, Ragab Tayeb Erdogan, and Martin Luther King, but it doesn't remember the judges who detained them in prison. Remember also that when civilians came to power in Turkey, they sentenced them all to prison. “Remember that when civilians reached authority in Turkey, they punished all militarists who brutally breached against democracy; the revolutionaries never forget. “I won't be broken by prisons, harassments, persecution, threats, and everything that my family and respectable friends face. So, the military has to choose between joining the revolution and conciliating with it, or just moving forward with their negligence until the confrontation we never wished for.” – Maikel Nabil Sanad ( 1/11/2011, after 215 days in prison and 70 days of hunger strike). A resolute announcement written in prison by the forgotten Egyptian symbol of hardship, #MaikelNabil, a few hours before his long awaited trial session. Supporters of his cause and defenders of his right to voice his opinion were awaiting the only verdict he deserved: a release. The soap opera was on and the military jury started playing their agreed upon roles. #MaikelNabil was the victim in the gruesome play who refused to yield. They forcibly made him attend his trial, ignoring his voice and announcement before: “I refuse to be tried here, I refuse to be presented in front of an illegitimate military court.” As expected, #MaikelNabil ordered his lawyers to stay silent and not take a stand in front of the military actors. However, the jury refused to surrender and ordered a lawyer they previously assigned to Nabil to step in and read from a paper he was given. The paper's content had no affiliation with what #MaikelNabil was being tried for. It included rubbish: Maikel's stance regarding forced military service and an order to call for four witnesses: Osama El Ghazali Harb (Chairman of Egyptian Democratic Front Party and No to Forced Military Service Symposium's coordinator), Rasha Azab (Journalist), Ali Sobhy Desouky, and addressing TE Data (an Internet Service Provider in Egypt) and the military intelligence administration. What any of these witnesses has to do with the “defaming the military organization” accusation is definitely questionable. In other words, the court wants witnesses that they'd rather hear to make the whole trial seem as a “fair” one. One might wonder how fair military trials are whe the whole case turns out to be a mockery of a courteous trial's definition. Upon his refusal to admit to the legitimacy of the trial, #MaikelNabil and everyone in court were kicked out until a verdict was to be announced. Outside court, however, was a different scene. Outside the military prosecution where Maikel was being tried, sadly only a group of 10 to 15 people were present to support Mark Nabil and his brother's case by demanding #MaikelNabil‘s release and expressing their outrage towards the #SCAF‘s plan to eliminate revolutionaries. @Adamakary announced the presence of a few supporters chanting: “Down with military rule.” @Dilmunite and others criticized the overall turnout compared to the #freealaa march that included thousands: “I'm sorry that @alaa‘s in jail, yet you were warned for so many months by #MaikelNabil. Where were you when he was arrested? Where were you when he sent letters from prison? Where were you when he was on the verge of death? You will pay for the price sooner or later.” @monakareem also added to the point when she tweeted: “I am sorry #MaikelNabil that you had few supporting you today in your trial. This is the hypocrite world. My heart is with you. #FreeMaikel.” Maikel's brother, Mark Nabil Sanad, is not less of a hero than his brother. Mark vowed to never stop fighting for his brother's rights and said he's not discouraged by any of the security forces attempts. “My brother is dying, the brother who was reported to be insane because he expressed the authenticity all of them were afraid of,” he told Bikyamasr.com. “Our mother is convinced he's innocent, she just isn't fully supportive of his stance to boycott his trials. She just wants her son back in her arms,” he added. Mark also voiced that his father, Nabil Sanad, was fooled into writing an appeal, where he addresses the #SCAF, hoping for forgiveness, as requested by Adel Morsy, Military Judiciary Chief, who said they will release #MaikelNabil on October 6 if an appeal was written. However, he was not released as promised. Mark also stated that both his family and Maikel's friends have been receiving death threats from the military forces and military police. One of them was in front of the Ministry of Defense when a brigadier general told Mark to stop spreading the word about #MaikelNabil‘s case in the media or “he will be killed in prison.” With the growing military censorship on journalism in the “New #Egypt,” it is now no wonder that Egyptian journalists are now reluctant or discouraged to publish anything about #MaikelNabil as the Armed Forces chooses to cross out anything they see as weakening their defense. #MaikelNabil was asked to write an apology to the Armed Forces organization for his release. He refused to play a role in the #SCAF‘s melodrama. After the court's decision to postpone until November 13, the story that #SCAF is waiting for #MaikelNabil to die became a reality. @MonaElTahawy tweeted: “#SCAF is waiting for #MaikelNabil to die. There is no other conclusion. And after 70days hunger strike & case postponed again, he will soon.” November 13 will be #MaikelNabil‘s 82nd day on his hunger strike, his health is deteriorating, and you are silent. Fake revolutionaries and freedom fighters, put your head down in shame. Your symbol and charlatan of liberty is dying in the hands of your tyrants just like your revolution is. ** Menna Alaa can be found on Twitter: @TheMiinz BM
