CAIRO: An Egyptian blogger and human rights activist recently lost his job because of his political views, according to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI).
Mohammed Maree, a veterinarian and the founder of Egytimes.org, was surprised to find himself out of a job after working for a veterinary pharmaceutical company in Mahalla city for less than three months, ANHRI said in a statement released Sunday.
“My supervisor told me that I was fired during my probation period….due to my political activities and… because I was detained before and did not mention this to the company,” Maree told Daily News Egypt. “He never said I did not pass my probation period successfully.”
“Another reason was that I have a blog where I write articles and opinions criticizing the government,” Maree added.
Company officials could not be reached for comment.
According to ANHRI, this is the sixth case of a blogger being terminated due to their political activism; the most recent of which was April 6 Youth Movement co-founder Ahmed Maher, an architect.
“My case is one of several others [that reflect] the relation between the capital and the regime and the security authorities,” Maree said.
“The similarity and repetition of [such] cases prove that they were not accidental, but a methodological means the regime uses to exert pressure on opposition,” the ANHRI statement read.
“It has become clear now that the Egyptian government formed blacklists for [activists]…to fight them at their workplaces, methods that reflect no integrity,” the statement added.