The Arabist

The Arabist

By Issandr El Amrani and friends.

Dr. Essam to be released

Finally Dr. Essam el-Erian is to be released, after he was detained during the pro-democracy demos last May.

Dr. Essam is someone I and many other secularists have so much appreciation for. He is a respectable citizen and a principled politician who should not have been taken away from his family and work, for demonstrating in support of Egypt's judiciary, and thrown to the Tora dungeons.

Dr. Essam is one of the main forces in the Muslim Brotherhood that has been pushing the group towards moderation and endorsing democracy as the means to governance. The regular crackdowns the govt conducts against him and his colleagues only serves the cause of extremism and strengthens salafi factions in the group. I'm glad he is getting out.

Mabrouk ya doctor!