Sandmonkey’s decision to stop blogging sends very serious signals about the political climate in Egypt, and the effect of the notorious constitutional amendments on the margins of freedom in the country.
The already-restricted margins of freedom are significantly eroding, and the blogosphere, the activists’ last resort, is now under attack. The past few months witnessed the imprisonment of Kareem Amer, the arrest of Abdel Moneim Mahmoud, investigations with Alaa Seif and others, and finally threats that forced Sandmonkey to quit blogging.
Freedom advocates and pro-reform groups are losing ground on daily basis. The regime’s capitalization on Western silence is turning Egypt into one large prison cell.
As an Islamist activist, I condemn this crackdown on Sandmonkey, Amer, Moneim, and all other bloggers and civil opposition activists. As a blogger, I feel insecure, and am particularly worried about the regime’s crackdown on tolerant members of all groups, who are coming closer together, defending each others’ right, and building a strong, broad, democratic alliance capable of facing the regime’s tyranny, corruption and authoritarianism.
I do not know what’s next. Phones are monitored, freedom of speech in newspapers is restricted, and blogger are intimidated. You are asking what leads to radicalism and terrorism? This is what leads to terrorism. I never find violence justifiable, but in a context where people are not allowed to think out loud, I could understand why some people resort to violence.

Sandmonkey’s decision to stop blogging sends very serious signals about the political climate in Egypt, and the effect of the notorious constitutional amendments on the margins of freedom in the country.
The already-restricted margins of freedom are significantly eroding, and the blogosphere, the activists’ last resort, is now under attack. The past few months witnessed the imprisonment of Kareem Amer, the arrest of Abdel Moneim Mahmoud, investigations with Alaa Seif and others, and finally threats that forced Sandmonkey to quit blogging.
Freedom advocates and pro-reform groups are losing ground on daily basis. The regime’s capitalization on Western silence is turning Egypt into one large prison cell.
As an Islamist activist, I condemn this crackdown on Sandmonkey, Amer, Moneim, and all other bloggers and civil opposition activists. As a blogger, I feel insecure, and am particularly worried about the regime’s crackdown on tolerant members of all groups, who are coming closer together, defending each others’ right, and building a strong, broad, democratic alliance capable of facing the regime’s tyranny, corruption and authoritarianism.
I do not know what’s next. Phones are monitored, freedom of speech in newspapers is restricted, and blogger are intimidated. You are asking what leads to radicalism and terrorism? This is what leads to terrorism. I never find violence justifiable, but in a context where people are not allowed to think out loud, I could understand why some people resort to violence.

——————————————————————————–

Ibrahim El-Houdaiby, an advisor to the Muslim Brotherhood and board member website, http://www.ikhwanweb.com

Other Topics:

So long Sandmonkey
Arabist Blog
Shooting The Messenger
Elijah Zarwan, newstatesman.co.uk - Cairo, Egypt
Rantings of a Sandmonkey » Done
Sand Monkey Blog
Egyptian blogger offline after ‘harassment’
Courier Mail - Australia
Free Monem?
Abu Aardvark, Abuaardvark Blog, US
Egypt: Release Journalist Who Criticized Torture
Human Rights Watch, USA

thank god i am planning to be a psychiatrist, may be i can help myself in such future situations specially i am sure that the implementation of state security democracy will continue.

long life SSD

please, don’t ever let this site shut down!

this just can’t be. if you really do quit this blog then all of the very freedoms and rights you discuss and inform us about will have just been words in cyberspace… nothing else.