EmBiz24/7 has a story today that will be of interest to all of us who blog:
"Saudi authorities have detained a popular blogger for violating the kingdom's laws, a senior Interior Ministry official said Tuesday. It was the first known arrest of a Saudi online critic.
The blogger, Fouad al-Farhan, was being questioned by security authorities, Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Monsour al-Turki said. He added the blogger "might be released" on Wednesday but did not elaborate.
The Saudi English daily, Arab News, said al-Farhan had "violated non-security regulations." The paper said the 32-year-old Jeddah resident was arrested at his office December 10 and taken to his home where police conducted a search. There were no other details on the arrest.
Meanwhile, his family has contacted the governmental Human Rights Commission, asking for help in the case, the paper said.
Al-Farhan's blog headline reads: "Searching for freedom, dignity, justice, equality, shoura and all the rest of lost Islamic values." Shoura means public consultation, in Arabic."
The story is here.
02 January, 2008
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10 comments:
That is so sad. We've come to a point where we have to be careful about what we say. I hope he is released soon Insha'Allah.
I wonder what shrub has got to say about this.
hahaaha this is just hilarious, DONT write things in a dictatorship COUNTRY - learn from those kuwaiti bloggers who got the battering of their life. Its COMMON SENCE.
It seems he knew he'd be arrested few days before it happened, here is a letter he wrote on his website:
This a letter sent by Fouad a few days before his arrest to his friends:
I was told that there is an official order from a high-ranking official in the Ministry of the Interior to investigate me. They will pick me up anytime in the next 2 weeks.
The issue that caused all of this is because I wrote about the political prisoners here in Saudi Arabia and they think I’m running a online campaign promoting their issue. All what I did is wrote some pieces and put side banners and asked other bloggers to do the same.
he asked me to comply with him and sign an apology. I’m not sure if I’m ready to do that. An apology for what? Apologizing because I said the government is liar when they accused those guys to be supporting terrorism?
To expect the worst which is to be jailed for 3 days till we write good feedback about you and let u go
there may be no jial and only apologizing letter. But, if it’s more than three days, it should be out. I don’t want to be forgotten in jail.”
Apparently, what transpires from the letter is inconsistent with the statement of the Saudi Interior ministry's spokesperson.
Here is the website: www.alfarhan.org
Well... Kuwait first, then Saudi.. where else next...?
Sorry for Fouad, and I hope he is released soon. I don't find it 'hilarious' Ali..
Jeez, is Bridget glad she does not blog about political stuff, aaargh!
I agree with the opinion of not blogging about politics in some countries. It’s sad but it’s true. I hope he gets released soon without any harm!
"Saudi blogger may soon be freed, official says"
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/01/02/saudi.blogger.jailed/
I suggest sending protest e-mails to the Saudi ambassador in Brussels.
More info and a model text here: http://catalunyafastforward.blogspot.com/2008/01/llibertat-per-fouad-al-farhan-blocaire.html
Marc Arza
www.catalunyafastforward.blogspot.com
hope the blogger is released..
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