AN EGYPTIAN military court yesterday met in closed session and sentenced blogger Maikel Nabil to three years’ imprisonment for “insulting” the military high command that has been in charge of the country since the ousting of Hosni Mubarak two months ago.
The accusation was based on a blog titled “The army and the people were never one hand”, which contradicted a slogan affirming the unity of army and people that was adopted during the uprising. It also accused the army of torturing detained protesters.
Following the sentencing, Wael Abbas, a leader of the uprising, tweeted: “Egypt will never be safe for bloggers.”
The verdict has alarmed bloggers and Facebook activists, and raised concerns that freedom of the press, much hoped for after Mr Mubarak’s fall, might not now be guaranteed.
The sentence was handed down the day after the military-led go- vernment decreed that new newspapers no longer needed to register with the security apparatus, a major demand of the democracy movement. During the Mubarak era, newspapers were strictly regulated and output was censored.
Activists have welcomed deregulation of the press in the expectation that emerging political parties would establish new newspapers ahead of the parliamentary and presidential elections.
However, the sentencing of Mr Nabil creates a climate of uncertainty over what may or may not be written.
In Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the uprising, clashes broke out between protesters who have been staging a sit-in since last Friday’s mass demonstration and elements who want to reopen the square to traffic. Protesters stayed put and continue to block the streets in order to pressure the generals to meet demands for the formation of a civilian presidential council to take over from the military during the transitional period. They also want an investigation into an attack by soldiers and security agents on protesters in the square last Saturday morning.
An interview with Mr Mubarak, broadcast on Sunday, in which he denied wrong-doing, has apparently hastened efforts by the public prosecutor to initiate proceedings against him and his family.
Interior minister Mansour el-Essawi said the security of Mr Mubarak and his sons would be guaranteed when they are called to answer accusations of corruption and abuse of power. “If the ex-president or his sons refuse to show up on time, the prosecutor general will be informed and will take legal action.” No date has been set for their summons.
