Egyptian Blogger to Pay a Heavy Fine For Reporting On Environmental Pollution

tamer-mabrouk.jpgThe Egyptian blogger Tamer Mabrouk was punished yesterday, not by being sent to a prison cell, but was fined L.E. 2500 (446 USD), and civil compensation of L.E. 40.000 (7272 USD). A Court of Appeal in Port Said (Suez Canal) upheld the decision to sentence the blog Al-Hakika Al-Mesreyya (The Egyptian Truth) to a fine for Trust Chemical inc., which has filed a Libel and Slander case against Mabrouk in June 2008.

Mabrouk revealed in his blog that Trust Chemical had dumped chemicals into Manzallah Lake and the Suez Canal, which have catastrophic effects on water and fish. In his blog, he is putting a badge calling the visitor to stand together against this factory, which is polluting the environment. Mabrouk also reported on harsh working conditions in the company.

This sentence is to be the second case in Egypt of punishing a blogger for what he writes on the internet. The first case is the blogger Kareem Amer, who has been in jail as sentenced for 4 years because of posting anti-Islam writings and insulting the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak on his blog.

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information and Mosawah Association for Human Rights in Port Said expressed their strong condemnation over the rule in a joint press release, quoting the sentenced blogger:

Tamer Mabrouk received a harsh and unjust sentence, said: “I will continue what I started, and will not stand helpless in front of the influence of this company which threatens our lives and suppresses its workers

1 comment

  • I suggest Twitter hashtag #justice4tamer

    Please Tweet and RT.

    I hope justice is served. The company should be fined, not the blogger who blew the whistle!

    #justice4tamer!

    -Manuel

    Twitter: @donbribon

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