Maikel Nabil
| Maikel Nabil Sanad | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1 October 1985 (aged 32) Asyut, Egypt |
| Residence | Washington, DC |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Known for | Political activism, blogging, leader of No to Compulsory Military Service Movement |
Maikel Nabil Sanad (also transcribed as Michael Egyptian Arabic: مايكل نبيل سند, IPA: [ˈmɑjkel næˈbiːl ˈsænæd]; born in 1985 in Asyut), is an Egyptian political activist, blogger, and a former political prisoner. He became famous in 2010 for refusing to serve in the Egyptian army, then in 2011 for his role in the Egyptian revolution. He is known for promoting liberal democratic values in Egypt, and campaigning for peaceful relations between Egypt and Israel. He currently lives in exile in the United States.
Maikel was born to a Coptic Orthodox family. In May 2007, Maikel wrote a blog post mentioning that he left Christianity, and that three priests had visited him at home, insulted him, and told him not to spread skepticism in religion among his community. Maikel's family never accepted his apostasy from Christianity. His father told Haaretz in Oct 2011 that "he would rather see Maikel die than to call him an atheist.". Later in October 2012, Egypt's General Prosecutor opened an investigation to decide if Maikel should be charged with Blasphemy because of his writings. Despite his atheism, he has delivered several speeches in several churches and synagogues in Germany and the United States about peace and democracy in the Middle East.
Maikel had his Bachelor in Veterinary Medicine from Asyut University in 2009, then he studied law at Cairo University and Public Policy at Erfurt University.
Nabil describes himself on his blog as "Liberal, Secular, Capitalist, Feminist, Pro-Western, Pro-Peace, Atheist, Materialist, Realist, Pro-Globalist, Intactivist, Anti-militarist, Pacifist". He is known for promoting free market economy as part of liberal democracy. He is also part of an Egyptian campaign acting against male circumcision. He supports LGBT rights and abortion.
Nabil is known also for promoting peaceful relations between Egypt and Israel. In his declaration of refusal of the military service in October 2010 he stated: "I'm not ready to carry an arm against an Israeli soldier, obligatory recruited, who defends the right of his country to exist." Later in December 2010, he wrote the article "Why I'm a pro-Israel", which was republished later on Al-Tawassul, the Arabic official website of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. when the Egyptian revolution started in 2011, Nabil broadcast a message to Israelis on his YouTube channel, calling Israelis to support the Egyptian revolution, arguing that democratic Egypt will be a friend of Israel. In April 2012 Nabil travelled to Germany to study in Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt. In December 2012, he visited Israel and Palestine, and he wrote an article called "Let There be Peace" and he gave public lectures at both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Universities, and he also visited the PLO in Ramallah.
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