CAIRO: It was supposed to signal a new era in Egyptian novels. The country’s first graphic novel, Metro, was supposed to be a show of free speech and artistic merit. Instead, it has become the hallmark of what rights groups say is the Egyptian government’s continued censorship of what its citizens can write. On Sunday, a Cairo misdemeanors court fined author Magdy el-Shafei and publisher Mohamed Sharkawi 5000 Egyptian pounds ($900) and demanded the confiscation of the novel after accusing them of writing and distributing a novel, which included statements and phrases considered “offensive to public morals.”

The verdict is already been widely viewed as a further blow to freedom of speech and creativity in Egypt.

The controversy started in April 2008, when police broke into the publishing house and confiscated all copies of the book. They then went to all bookstores and took the novel from the shelves, without warrant, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) made clear in repeated press statements.

The police conducting the raid hailed from the Vice Squad, or discipline police – increasing in use recently to rid society of unnecessary material – which has surprised many observers.

The discipline police do not usually deal in such affairs as censorship, Mohamed Youssri, head of Tadamon (Solidarity) NGO – an umbrella organization that works to bring together like-minded NGOs in the country – said last year.

The discipline police are a sector of the ministry of interior who deal “with prostitution mainly and a few other things,” so it was shocking to Youssri that they were responsible for the seizure of the text.

The novel deals with politically sensitive issues and what may have sparked government interest is the limited sexual content of the book. For many, it comes as no surprise that the government is using this as a scapegoat to keep the politics from reaching a wider audience.

Three human rights organizations condemned the court ruling on Sunday, including ANHRI and the Hisham Mubarak Law Center in a joint statement. The rights groups called on all those concerned with freedom of expression and creativity to show “solidarity with the author and publisher of the novel, especially as the novel was the first Egyptian graphic novel and received many awards and certificates of appreciation from specialist critics.” They argued that the criticism of literary works should not be in the courtroom.

Shafei expressed deep regret over the court’s ruling, saying it would “not be the last round,” adding that “there are degrees of other litigation,” in a sign that he will continue to appeal the verdict.

Some groups have called on the culture minister to intervene in order to protect an artist from imprisonment.

But the culture ministry has no say in the matter – as it has been regulated by the interior ministry – Minister Hosni has been quick to point out that he does not condone censorship.

“I am an artist and as an artist I do not believe in trying to limit one’s expression,” he said earlier this year in his upscale Cairo office.

Ironically, Malamah had already published Shafei’s graphic novel and it featured at the Cairo International Book Fair in January 2008.

In Egypt, books that are censored by the government become instant best sellers. Take “The DaVinci Code” which was banned by Cairo after the film was canceled. Street vendors noted at the time that English and Arabic versions of the novel sold so rapidly that it was difficult to keep up with buyers.

“I need to get a lot of copies of ‘Metro’ now that it has been taken,” said Mahmoud, a street book seller. “People will want to buy it because the government has told them that they can’t. Typical Egyptians … we do the opposite of what the government says in private.”

Leading editors and journalists have been put to trial for their professional duties. Ibrahim Eissa, the outspoken editor of Al Dustour newspaper, has taken the brunt of government attacks on freedom of speech. He has been pardoned by President Hosni Mubarak, but is still waiting to hear the result of other cases brought against him by zealous NDP cronies who seek to gain favor with the party.

Other editors, such as Abdel Halim Qandeel, have been forced out of their jobs because of what they write. It is a dark time for Egypt and its literary world.

Gamal Eid, the head of the ANHRI, has been leading the charge against the government, but to no avail. He says that the constant clamping down on what people right is leaving the country without a future “if people are not allowed to have debate in the country.”

**additional reporting by Mohamed Abdel Salam

BM

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