Egyptian Activist Convicted Of Insulting President Mohammed Morsi

The crackdown on free speech continued this week under President Mohammed Morsi (left) with a conviction of Ahmed Douma for insulting the leader. It is only one of a variety of cases against Egyptian journalists, bloggers, and others charged criminally for their criticism of Morsi and the imposition of authoritarian measures and Islamic laws in the country.

Douma’s writings would be viewed as tame by Western standards in the exercise of free speech. He criticized the security measures imposed by the government and Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood group for being behind a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters outside Morsi’s office last year. In the key interview cited by prosecutors, Douma said, “I don’t see a president ruling Egypt. I see someone called Mohammed Morsi, a criminal evading justice, who is hiding in the presidential palace.”

Some 2300 people are charged for their involvement in anti-government protests.

The crackdown on free speech is being indirectly supported by over a billion dollars in U.S. aid to the government.

Source: Washington Post