Maikel Nabil Sanad, a blogger who publicly criticized the military regime governing Egypt, has been sentenced to three years in prison, raising concerns about the future of democracy in the Middle Eastern country.

 

Nabil became the first blogger to wind up in jail since President Hosni Mubarak’s three-decade reign came to an end in February. He accused Egypt’s armed forces of being corrupt and anti-democratic, and posted reports from human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, about the military’s treatment of protesters and prisoners, which included the use of torture.

 

Nabil was charged with “insulting the military by publishing false news about it” and “obstructing public security.” He was tried by a military tribunal and sentenced to three years in Tora Prison.

 

Some human rights advocates said Nabil, a Christian, was an easy target for the military, given his prior skirmishes with the military and his pro-Israel views. As a pacifist, he also refused to serve in the army, which is required under Egyptian law.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Egypt Sentences Blogger to 3 Years (by Liam Stack and Ethan Bronner, New York Times)

Egypt Blogger Gets 3 Years for Criticizing Army (by Sarah El Deeb, Associated Press)

Egypt: Blogger’s 3-Year Sentence a Blow to Free Speech (Human Rights Watch)