Egyptian Blogger Appeal Denied

The United States is disappointed that the initial appeal of Egyptian student blogger, Abdel Karim Soliman, was not successful. He is the first Egyptian blogger to be prosecuted for the content of his remarks, and his conviction is a setback for human rights in Egypt. The role of freedom of expression is critical in a democratic and prosperous society. The right to freedom of opinion and expression, through any media, applies to everyone and is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We were deeply concerned by his conviction and prison sentence for expressing his opinions. We note that Mr. Soliman can pursue a further appeal, and we will continue to closely monitor this case.