CAIRO: Quranist blogger Reda Abdel Rahman remains in police custody despite being acquitted by the Supreme State Security Emergency Court earlier this month, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) which says that he is being held under emergency law.
State Security has accused Abdel Rahman of disrespecting Islam by following the Quranist ideology. The 32-year-old social worker was detained in October and was denied access to a lawyer, said EIPR lawyer Adel Ramadan.
The Quranists believe that the Quran is the sole source of Islamic jurisprudence and are often slammed with accusations that include denying the Sunna (teachings of Prophet Mohamed).
According to reports, Abdel Rahman was under investigation for the content of his blog, titled “Justice, Freedom and Peace. He was then arrested and has been behind bars since.
EIPR has filed and won a lawsuit challenging the ministry of interior’s decision to keep Abdel Rahman behind bars. The ministry then filed an appeal on Dec. 14, 2008, demanding that the court reverse its decision to release the blogger.
The appeal was turned down by the Supreme State Security Emergency Court on Jan. 5 and Abdel Rahman should have been released from prison. “Today’s decision to release Reda Abdel Rahman is final and not subject to appeal, Ramadan said after the verdict was announced.
“We demand Reda’s immediate release and the investigation of those responsible for his detention solely on the basis of the religious beliefs he expressed on his blog.
EIPR said in a statement that security forces raided Abdel Rahman’s home in Sharkeya on Oct. 27, 2008 and arrested him on the grounds of the beliefs and writings published on his blog.
He appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution Office on Dec. 6, 2008 and was reportedly interrogated about his beliefs and his faith, including views on the validity of the Sunna.
He was accused of “contempt for the Muslim faith at the time after officials questioned the manner in which he prays.
The blogger’s family and lawyers haven’t been allowed to visit him since his original detention in October, despite several visitation permits acquired from the Public Prosecution Office.
