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Our Reports
The Internet In the Arab World
A New Space of Repression?
No Rules, No Limits
United Arab Emirates:
Freedom of expression is missing despite a decision banning imprisonment for press crimes
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Wael Abbas gives his testimony before the General Prosecution as a witness,
regarding a video clip of a girl being physically abused and forced to strip naked
February 19, 2008,
Cairo,
The Arabic Network for Human Rights stated that the General Prosecution continued today the second session to hear the testimony of the Egyptian well-known blogger Wael Abbas, the editor of the famous blog (Al-Waie Al-Masry) or ]The Egyptian Awareness[ http://misrdigital.blogspirit.com regarding the notice submitted by lawyers of The Association for Human Rights Legal Aid in last December in reference to a video clip been filmed by a mobile phone. The video depicts someone who is physically abusing a girl forcing her to strip naked as he wears a gun cover around his waist, which indicates that he might be a police officer. The video was posted in Wael Abbas's blog last December, 2007 & many other blogs & websites.
The Central Cairo prosecution summoned Wael Abbas in case number 1560 /2007, to hear his testimony, as a witness in the case as he has been asked whether he knows any of the persons who appeared in the torturing clip, or even the person who sent him the clip via E-mail.
Gamal Eid, lawyer and executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, as well as Osama Abdul-Moneim the lawyer, attended the investigation where Abbas confirmed the positivity of the General Prosecution's launch of investigation in this issue, as he also hopes by posting this video, to help catching those torturers who were forcing a girl to strip naked and abusing here physically cold-bloodedly and irresponsibly beating her.
It is worthy to mention that Wael Abbas's blog has played a major role in unmasking the crime of torturing a bus driver, the crime that was filmed by a mobile phone too and the police officer who committed that shameful crime was discovered. This case was titled according to the victim's name as "Emad Al-Kabeir's case" and a court sentenced the criminal police officer to three years in prison a few months ago.
The most recent clip that is being currently investigated by the General Prosecution, depicts clearly three persons other than the girl abused. Their photos are illustrated in Abbas's website blog in order to enable any internet user to help in recognizing either the girl or the persons abusing her, about whom the General Prosecution was notified.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said that "bloggers prove again that they are an essential supporter for the human rights movement and thus, they face different violations which requires our advocation and help to enable them to work and pose their opinions without censorship or intimidation".
It is notable to say that the 33 years old Wael Abbas has been awarded in 2007 the prize of the International Center for Journalists, besides being chosen by CNN as " Middle East Person of the Year " in honor of him and in support of his efforts as a blogger who contributed in unmasking many violations, in addition to his being subjected to many defaming campaigns due to his efforts in raising the ceiling of freedom of expression in Egypt and the Arab world.
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