Call for e-Freedom

Members of the

European Parliament

Call for e-Freedom

A Call for e-Freedom was launched by Members of the European Parliament Graham Watson, Anna Maria Gomes, Sirpa Pietikainen and Anders Wijkman. They claim that there are at least 80 people in the world currently in jail for posting their political opinions online. Their detention is a clear and gross violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington is backing a campaign calling for freedom of expression on the Internet for all people, The Call for e-Freedom.

Talking about the issue, Tom Brake MP said, ‘It is truly upsetting that all over the world people’s basic right to self-expression is being violated. This campaign will show that the people of the world are willing to stand up for their rights and against repression and dictatorship.’If you wish to add your support for The Call for e-Freedom you can visit their website at

http://www.e‐parl.net

or text

+44‐751‐586‐1589

or write to

Post Box 922, 2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark.

Please encourage your friends colleagues to add their support to this worthy cause.

This is a very important initiative. In Egypt we have several bloggers in jail. Some of them are detained under emergency law and we do not even know their whereabouts including

• Ahmed El Mounairy: Blogger - Arrested in April 2008 - Mahalla - for showing on his blog photos of Policemen Damaging their own vehicles to stage claims of violence and destruction of government property, detained under Emergency Law




• Karim Amer: Blogger - Arrested two years ago - sentenced on 27th Feb 2007 - on the charge of derogation of religion (but his real crime was to criticize President Mubarak on his blog). A member of El Ghad Liberal Party

We must also prepare ourselves for yet another potential assault on Freedom of Speech, as we hear news of a draft of a new legislation, leaked by the Daily Independent, Al Masry Al Youm. The new Law, now known as Fikky's Law, is due to be presented to Parliament for ratification next November. The proposed law allegedly classifies any Writings, Signs, Graphics or Audiovisuals, "made accessible" on the the Internet, Blogs, Facebook, YouTube, etc., as "Broadcast", requiring special licenses. The alleged law also provided wide authorities for censors and heavy punishments for "Boradcasting Content" deemed as inappropriate or violating public ethics or social peace, which are broad terms used to allow selective incrimination of activists.

This Group (Support Free Media in Egypt : 2,500 members) was formed to protest the law:
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19982242894