A courageous young Egyptian

By Ted Belman

Last November, YNET published a profile on Maikel Nabil Sanad, a very courageous young Egyptian, titled Egyptian refusenik: I’m pro-Israel. He is also of Coptic Christian origin.

Yesterday, he blogged,

Egyptian Intelligence Just Released me an hour ago… They beat me a lot, sexually harassed me, threaten me to be tried in front of a military trial, wanted to make me join the army, stole my ID & Mobile phone. I spent The Worst days of my life… I’ll need a couple of days to rest after this horrible experience

Who is this guy and why do I care? Read what he says in the YNET article.

“I am pro-Israel. I don’t want to take part in anti-Semitic operations or those that negate Israel’s right to exist in the region. I see Israel as a liberal, modern state with a religious character. I have friends in Israel and I think Israelis have a right to defend themselves.”

“I am a pacifist, I am against bearing arms and participating in military and paramilitary organizations. Recruitment goes against my conscience. I don’t want to act against my conscience, whatever the price. I also am not willing to be a pawn on the chessboard of an arms race, struggles and bloodbaths in the region. I don’t want to point a weapon at a young Israeli, recruited into obligatory service, defending his state’s right to exist. I think obligatory service is a form of slavery and I have worked for years for my freedom.”

“They (the military) accused me of collaboration, of treachery, of working for foreign interests. In light of this campaign, I began fearing for my life if I were to serve in the army, especially in an organization that enjoys censorship, a non-neutral military judicial system etc. In my desire to preserve my life, even if I sit in jail for years, I prefer this to the adventure of being killed in the army.”

I wish him well .