Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Saber trial adjourned
Published in Daily News Egypt on 17 - 10 - 2012

Saber's mother, Kariman Meseeha, called the police for protection but they arrested her son instead, in what appeared to be a coordinated plan with the mob. (Photo by Mohamed Omar)
Alber Saber, the blogger on trial for contempt of religion, will continue to be held on remand as Al-Marg Court on Wednesday adjourned his case to 14 November.
“We asked for Alber's release on bail among our demands today but the court did not respond yet," said Ahmed Ezzat, Saber's defence lawyer and head of the legal division of the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression. “The fact that the case was adjourned means that it probably won't be granted though."
The prosecution accuses him of “contempt of the Islamic and Christian religions, insulting the divine being, making fun of religious practices and prophets" and has demanded the court deliver the strictest penalty; five years imprisonment.
Independent lawyers suing Saber for nominal damages said he “committed heresy and blasphemy" and also demanded he be given the maximum sentence.
Saber's defence team asked for his official medical record from the forensics department to prove he had been assaulted in prison.
Saber was attacked in Al-Marg police station following his initial arrest. Inmates cut his throat with a razor blade after a police officer told them Saber had insulted religion.
A report by Ezzat claims, “[at] Al-Marg police station [he] was taken to a room that had about five other inmates. Then a young officer entered the room and told the five inmates that Alber is the one who distributed the video defaming the prophet and that he burnt the Quran and insulted all religions and ordered them to attack him," it read.
“They beat him, four of them tied him up and totally paralyzed him while the fifth took out a razor and hit him with it in the neck resulting in a cut wound [sic]. Then he was taken to another room that had more than 20 people who beat him up and then forced him to stand by the toilet door until morning preventing him from sitting down," it went on.
The prosecution has demanded the court deliver the strictest penalty for Saber: five years imprisonment. (Photo by Mohamed Omar)
The defence also asked the technical report that accompanied the investigation. The prosecution had searched Saber's numerous online social media accounts and computer equipment before uncovering the CD that contained the video for which he is being tried.
In the 39-minute video Saber argues that the clergy for all religions spread fanaticism and that there is no god. Saber was initially arrested after a mob gathered outside his building and intended to break into his house.
His mother, Kariman Meseeha, called the police for protection but they arrested him instead in what appeared to be a coordinated plan with the mob. He was accused of spreading the Innocence of Muslims film on his Facebook account but this was later proven false.
Police went back to his home two days later and searched it when no one was home. They seized several books and CDs. Meseeha was threatened with burning both her house and the nearby church and was forced to leave her home.
Ezzat said the defence also asked the court to call in the witnesses, which include two men who reported Saber to the police, the policeman who arrested him, and the one who interrogated him at the police station.
Supporters of Saber came to the trial with signs that read “stop the inquisition" and “freedom in Egypt = prison" while members of his family donned black shirts that said “Free Alber."


Clic here to read the story from its source.