I haven’t seen any news of the SOE government releasing the cartoonist Arif. From what I understand, he’s still in custody. I cannot imagine how bad the conditions are that he has been held under. I shudder every time I think of where and how this completely innocent individual is. It was a travesty of justice to send him to prison. Every minute that he is kept there is a travesty of justice as well. No fair-minded person should think otherwise.

In light of the recent “pardons” of the RU professors, I say that the government “pardon” Arif as well. I do not have any doubt in my mind that Arif did anything wrong, that there is no crime per se that he needs to be granted forgiveness for. I have not a shred of doubt in my mind that his imprisonment was unjust.

But I beg, beseech, the government to pardon Arif. If they can save face and even gain advantage by doing so, let them. Let them portray to the world that they were right to send him there, and now they are merciful and generous in letting him out. But let Arif go free. Pardon him, please.