NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2007 - Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer’s trial is scheduled for this Thursday. An informal group of New York City residents are joining together in solidarity for a peaceful protest of the government of Egypt’s treatment of Kareem, and to plead for all charges against him to be dropped. The protest has been organized for this Wednesday, January 31 at 3:30pm, in front of the Egyptian Consulate in New York.

Kareem has been imprisoned in Alexandria, Egypt, since November, after posting to his website statements calling for equal rights for women and protection of free speech, as well as other statements critical of the Egyptian government. He has been denied bail and faces a long prison sentence if convicted of the charges held against him. The New York group is trying to mobilize the national news media in hopes that increased visibility of Kareem’s circumstances will pressure the Egyptian government to act responsibly.

The Egyptian Consulate in New York is located at 1110 2nd Avenue, between E. 58th and E. 59th.

For more information about Kareem Amer, visit www.freekareem.org, and to sign an online petition to the Egyptian government, visit www.petitiononline.com/kamer .

For more information about the Wednesday rally, or for media inquiries, please contact Constantino Diaz-Duran at constantino@c-dd.com, or Chris Kilmer at kilmer1979@gmail.com