<$BlogItemTitle$> <$BlogItemTitle$>Broadcasters of Tomorrow

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Moroccan Facebook User Jailed

The Moroccan government arrested a Facebook user, Fouad Mourtada, for creating a fake profile of a Moroccan prince, as a "joke." The Wall Street Journal reports Facebook denied providing Mourtada's personal information to Moroccan authorities.
How did Moroccan authorities hack Mourtada's Facebook page to get personal info?

The Committee to Protect Bloggers suspects Facebook may have provided the personal info and be lying, adding "it will be impossible to take its denial at face value until and unless the means of discovering Mourtada’s identity becomes public."
The C.P.B. suspects Facebook may have provided the info, in keeping with Facebook's user agreement which says it will share information with law enforcement and other government agencies “when it has a good faith belief it is legally obligated to do so.”
Mourtada was sentenced to three years in prison for creating the satirical Facebook profile.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Video: Arab blogger, Fouad Al-Farhan, jailed

Ahmad Fouad Al-Farhan, an Arab blogger - see our story below - and a resident of Jeddah, was arrested at his workplace by police on December 10. Authorities are holding him in prison without charges.
Below is an excellent video report that includes clips from other Arab bloggers.
Some of Al-Farhan's top 25 reasons for blogging: (as posted on his blog which authorities objected to)
2. Because societies do not progress until they learn to respect opinions of their members. And we would like to see our society progressing.
3. Because blogging is our only option. We do not have a free media, and freedom to assemble is not allowed.
18. Because our religion encourages us to speak out.

19. Because we are sick and tired of the Saudi media hypocrisy.

Saudi Blogger in Solitary Confinement

Ahmad Fouad Al-Farhan, 32, a blogger and a resident of Jeddah, was arrested at his workplace by police on December 10. The police first took him home to collect his laptop computer and then took him to prison. Recently Al Farhan's mother said Saudi authorities allowed her son to telephone his family from Jeddah’s Dahban Prison. Al Farhan has not been informed of the charges against him. His detention is believed to be the first arrest of an online critic in the kingdom.
More at the Free Fouad
website.
Worse places:
10 Most Censored Countries
Saudi Bloggers Push Cultural Boundaries