CAIRO: The Journalists’ Syndicate’s freedom’s committee announced its full support for Al-Masry Al-Youm’s columnist, Sahar El-Ga’ara, in her call for shutting down and prosecuting the authors of blogs that she said “preach atheism and disrespect religions.
“It is my duty to protect the social peace and to report on anything which I find is threatening my country, El-Ga’ara told Daily News Egypt.
On Feb. 26, El-Ga’ara wrote a column titled “Complaint to the Prosecutor General, in Al-Masry Al-Youm, condemning three specific blogs.
“Do the rules and regulations of publishing apply to the internet? I don’t think so. And there is also no sort of protection for intellectual property rights, except in a few cases.
“Therefore, the internet is turning into a lethal weapon in the hands of organizations with fanatical ideologies and homosexuals, she wrote.
El-Ga’ara mentioned a blog under the name of “Atheism is the Solution, as well as a Facebook group called “Hegabs, Nekabs and other Trash – formerly called “Off With Your Hegab Now. The group’s objective, as mentioned in its description, is “restoring the girls’ self-respect without Wahhabi trash…Restoring our Egyptian identity.
A blog is associated with the group authored by a man who identifies himself as Hassan El Helaly “Combater of the Hijab.
El-Ga’ara also mentioned another Facebook group titled “Calm and Frank Dialogue on which questions such as “What is the best economic system in your opinion? Is there a difference between Atheism and believing? What is the morality of polygamy? and Do we have to believe in all religions? are addressed.
El-Ga’ara considers her column to be her report to the state so it could start investigations. However if “a positive step is not made within the upcoming period, she said, she will personally take action by filing an official complaint to the Prosecutor General.
Mohamed Abdel Qudous, head of the freedoms committee, told Daily News Egypt, “We are supporting Sahar El-Ga’ara for two main reasons. First, because we reject atheism, if a person wants to be an atheist he can be but he can’t preach it.
“The second reason is because of the foul language and insults directed at her on the internet, he said.
Since El-Ga’ara’s column was published, she was the target of insults and accusations of violating freedom of expression.
“There is a difference between freedom of expression and inciting sedition and insulting religions; and between attracting young people using certain tools, said El-Ga’ara.
“With freedom of expression comes a great responsibility; we as intellects, journalists, writers call for freedom of expression, but these are mysterious people who were proved to be part of a lobby to incite sedition and create sectarian rifts between Muslims and Copts, she explained.
El-Ga’ara said that she has been receiving death threats which she is not taking seriously.
“Freedom of expression has its limits; a person cannot preach atheism or insult the three divine religions. This is not accepted anywhere in the world, said Abdel Qudous.
El-Ga’ara’s complaint has human rights activists up in arms.
“What she is calling for is a censorship on the internet in Egypt . the Prosecutor General should not open an investigation in this matter as it will effect freedom of expression on the internet and make people afraid to use their right to express their opinion, said Rami Raouf, press officer at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.
“What is shocking is that the freedoms committee announced its full support to El-Ga’ara . if a censorship law is passed next week they are the ones who should be the first to step up and protest against it, he explained.
El-Ga’ara said that if those criticizing her are arguing that what is being written on these blogs is freedom of expression then “where is my freedom of expression, why don’t they accept my opinion on the matter?
As a secular, she says she defends the freedom of belief and expression, the rights of Bahais, Shias and Copts in Egypt. “I have defended everyone who has been attacked, El-Ga’ara said, citing examples such as Nawal El-Saadawy and Sayed Al-Qimni.
“But when it comes to an organization that is threatening the society and will incite sedition, I had to take action, she said.
