I have been friends with Ahmad Naji since 2006. We met at Akhbar Al-Adab newspaper, where we sat in crowded rooms discussing books and mocking intellectuals. I  hadheard about his blog before I met him. Over the years, I got to know him better and became more familiar with his blogs. In the same year, I was tasked with preparing the margins of the newspaper’s issue (old readers will understand this) and I was asked to choose blogs that were new at the time and attracted the public’s attention. Press investigations, seminars, and books were presented through blogging.

I have been friends with Ahmad Naji since 2006. We met at Akhbar Al-Adab newspaper, where we sat in crowded rooms discussing books and mocking intellectuals. I  hadheard about his blog before I met him. Over the years, I got to know him better and became more familiar with his blogs. In the same year, I was tasked with preparing the margins of the newspaper’s issue (old readers will understand this) and I was asked to choose blogs that were new at the time and attracted the public’s attention. Press investigations, seminars, and books were presented through blogging.

I began my task by tackling the ‘Expand Your Imagination’ blog. I browsed it and followed other blogs referred to therein. Since then, I sunk into the world of online writing and Naji helped me. I used to read what he wrote in the evening and discussed it the next morning.

Naji was my entrance to the blogosphere as it was my entrance to him. There, I understood even more; I understood his irony, foulness, energy, provocation and intelligence. I suppose that there are many similar stories, the heroes of which are the Internet and Ahmed Naji, one leading to the other.

Since then, I have viewed Naji as two souls; one is here in ‘Akhbar Al-Adab’ and the other is hanging there on the Internet. To imagine that Naji is in prison would make anyone restless, even his enemies.

Is it a personal sadness? Yes, I am sad for a historical friend whom I used to eat with in Jernan, but the issue is not only personal. Naji had a prominent role in expanding freedom of speech and thinking in recent years before and after the Egyptian revolution. His followers know this very well. My sorrow for Naji is a sorrow for my life, as it will look very empty without his presence. It is a sorrow for Egypt, speech spaces and even fresh air.

Novelist Hamdi Abu Jalil wrote on his Facebook page, “The stab of Ahmed Naji is not like any other stab. It is in the heart, soul, place and character. Tomorrow, you will be in his place in prison. Naji is not Buhairi nor Naaot. He is the core of literature. Bitterly, Naji was jailed for normal words he said or wishes to say. I direct such words to those who want to evaluate the novel of Ahmed Naji while he is detained.”

For some reason, it was not expected that imprisonment would be the end of the case against Naji. Until the last meeting, we thought it was a game. Why? Because Naji is the player and we believed he would always be free and hard to confine.

However, no guarantee in our minds might be true, especially under a regime that seeks to prevent freedoms with all its strength. That is why Naji’s imprisonment was the greatest shock for us; the freest was jailed. Our fear for Naji was doubled. On the one hand, we know him and cannot imagine him in jail. On the other hand, we are afraid for ourselves too.

Naji is a writer who was detained because of a text he wrote. Writers are now afraid for themselves. Naji is not a political leader or a Muslim Brotherhood member. He is not affiliated with any political party or movement. He is merely a writer who published a chapter of his novel in a newspaper. He used to socialize with writers and artists rather than politicians, whom he despises. That is why we, and our cultural circles, felt scared; the monster is approaching.

Finally, in the last two days, I read that some people accuse those who are in solidarity with Naji of being biased towards him at the expense of others since he is our friend. Well, many people in Egypt are in solidarity with everyone, but everything could be bought except love.

What is the charge against Naji other than writing “obscene” words? What does Naji represent other than being “indecent”? He plays differently. When I am paranoid, I think of this, as I do not understand why a person who does not threaten the security of the nation in any way could be jailed only for being different. Being different may be provocative for those who are, not even if they have weapons or laws. You will be detained because you are not similar to us and cannot be molded. Why is it wrong to be different?

This is all nonsense. What matters the most is that I am very sad, very upset and very angry.