Trampling on Saudi rights

During my recent trip to Saudi Arabia – to research information for my upcoming book on the internet in repressive regimes – I spent time with blogger and activist Fouad Al Farhan, a generous, critical and warm man. He’s now allegedly been arrested for daring to challenge the Washington-backed dictatorship:

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.

More information here.

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