Chair of West Midland PSC
In oppressive countries, the noble persons dwell behind the bars. Don’t
grieve my friends, I’m in the normal place!
I’ve made a mistake when I was in Hisham Mubarak Law Center once, and
declared my intention to write a sequel to my article “The army and the
people were never one hand.” However, when I get detained in order not
to write a specific article, it becomes the most valued testimony I
could ever receive in my lifetime!
This is the seventh time to get detained; Two times in Syria, two times
at the hands of the Egyptian police, and three times at the hands of the
Egyptian military. How many times are required before I can live free?!
In Mubarak’s era, detentions were issued by administrative decisions.
But nowadays, blessed with the Military Council, detentions pass through
military court rulings!
Yesterday, Saturday 9th April 2011, I’ve commemorated the second
anniversary of No for Compulsory Military Service Movement by drinking
juice and eating some pieces of chocolates. O’ Egypt! Why do you always
steal our joy deliberately?!
I’m reminiscing Mubarak and State Security days now! At least, I have
never been sent to prison, and neither beaten by a state security
officer, nor sexually harassed!
Weirdly enough, on the walls of the opposite cell, some prisoner has
inscribed “This is from the favour of my Lord.[1] ” Is this your favour,
Lord? Do You really bless those who kill and torture our brothers?!
“You! With the star, eagle, and beret [2]… Why are you possessed by
arresting young men?
“Raise the walls of my prison more and more! The revolt will soon
destroy the sore!”
These are the chants which I keep on repeating inside the military prison!
I can feel the intention of harming me after the court ruling. Don’t
believe the army’s worthless claims about suicide attempts. Hence, the
Military Council is responsible for my safety and well-being until the
time of my release.
Thanks to everyone worldwide who showed solidarity with me. Freedom has
its price, and I’m paying this price behind the prison walls, while
you’re paying it outside.
—
Note:
Maikel Nabil has written this article in Arabic on Sunday 10th April
2011, and handed it to one of his lawyers inside the military court
around 1400 local time, before being informed with the “mysterious”
court ruling which has sentenced him to 3 years in prison charging him
for the likes of articles, Facebook comments, and many other
unbelievable things words.
Footnotes:
[1] 27 – 40 of Qur’an. This specific verse, Ayah, among various verses,
is used publicly in different contexts to publicly praise to the Islamic
god, Allah. You will surely witness this verse inscribed on many shops
nameplates, service cars, private cars, as well as home entrances, etc…
Maikel here denotes to a popular phrase, but this time inscribed by a
prisoner on the wall of his own cell, which Maikel perceives as weird.
[2] Reference to the Egyptian army and police insignias and uniforms.
Taken from
