2016-02-23 09:31:10 +0000
Thanks to all who have signed this. There's another petition that is taking off faster than mine. Please take a moment to add your name to that one, too.
Many thanks. John Ravenscroft
To: Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Keep Fatima Naoot Out Of Prison
In a recent Facebook post, the writer and poet Fatima Naoot criticized the annual slaughter of animals at a religious festival. The fact that she is facing a three year prison sentence as a result of her post is a disgrace.
Philip Hammond, in your capacity as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, please do all you can to persuade President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that Fatima Naoot should not be imprisoned. He has an opportunity to show the rest of the civilized world that Egypt does not muzzle free speech. Please intervene and help call a halt to this potential miscarriage of justice.
Why is this important?
Fatima Naoot's case should never have made it to court. It suggests the state is turning a blind eye to the advocates of religious extremism.
As for the nature of the religious festival Fatima criticized - I won't upset you with the details. But if you want further information, Google the following:
Eid al-Adha animal sacrifice
More info here: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-courts-poet-idUSKBN0L121M20150128
