Committee to Protect Bloggers » Fouad Al Farhan

Fouad Al Farhan Released

Curt — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:50:02 +0000

Saudi blogger Fouad Al Farhan has been released from prison and is resting at home with his family, according to a message from the Free Fouad group.

Fouad, called the father of Saudi blogging, was arrested on December 11 in Jeddah and held in solitary confinement with no charges and only one family visit.

Confirmed by Saudi Jeans.

Farhan Video Message

Curt — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:35:09 +0000

Fouad Al-Farhan, the “father of Saudi blogging,” remains in prison without charges, since being arrested on December 10th of last year.

Here’s a video featuring Farhan’s daughter (from Arab News via CNN’s Inside the Middle East Blog).

(Oh. My G-d. Why is this embed on the right, again!? I hate the Internets.)

Can’t embed this properly, so, here’s the link to the Farhan video.

CNN’s Jamjoon on Fouad

Curt — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:18:14 +0000

Of particular interest is Jamjoon’s belief that Saudi bloggers know they can get the word out on something like Fouad’s arrest without having to rely upon the media, either Arab or global.

Silence for Fouad

Curt — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:30:09 +0000

Saudi Blogger Arrested

Curt — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 04:19:25 +0000

Searching for freedom, dignity, justice, equality, public participation, and all the rest of lost Islamic values, and for Raghad and Khetab.

Update: Al Farhan is still in jail, over 80 days later, has only been allowed one visit and has remained in solitary confinement. This isn’t just classy, it’s Kingdom Klassy.

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Saudi blogger Fouad Al Farhan has reportedly been arrested, according to Bloggers Observatory. He was taken into custody at his office in the city of Jiddah on December 11.

Here is the translation of the Bloggers Observatory post, courtesy of Tharwa.

Saudi blogger, Fouad Al-Farhan was arrested on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 following a raid on his office by Saudi authorities who did not give any reason for his arrest.

Fuad is considered one of the first Saudi bloggers to use their real name when posting. He dedicated his blog to a frank discussion of the various social and national issues, in a true embodiment of the slogan of his blog: “in search of freedom, dignity, justice, equality, consultation, and the rest of lost Islamic values… for Raghad and Khattab.”

The authorities are believed to be dismayed with Fouad for his support of the “Ten,” the ten Saudi academics who were arrested earlier this year for their alleged involvement in funding terrorism, albeit the charges have yet to verified.

Fouad has been previously harassed by unknown official parties and was forced to shut down his blog between February and June 2007.

A group has arisen to agitate for his release, Free Fouad.

The rest of the story and updates below the fold.

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