13 Dec 11 | Index Index, minipost
US born Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi has been charged by authorities following her arrest eight days ago. Razan was arrested by Syrian officials at the country’s border with Jordan border whilst attempting to attend a conference for advocates of free press in the Arab world in Amman, Jordan. The blogger has been charged with “establishing an organisation that aims to change the social and economical entity of the state,” “weakening the national sentiment,” and trying to ignite sectarian strife” all of which can be punished with up to 15 years in prison.
13 Dec 11 | Index Index, minipost
The case of prominent Egyptian blogger and activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah is to be be tried in a civilian court, it has been reported. Egyptian authorities are said to have transferred the case state security prosecutors to investigative judges, which opens up the possibility of a trial in a civilian criminal court with the right to appeal. Abdel-Fattah was detained 30 October after he refused to answer questions over his alleged role in the 9 October clashes in Cairo.
08 Dec 11 | Index Index, minipost
A blogger has been jailed for two and a half years after posting excerpts of a biography online deemed offensive to the Thai monarchy. Joe Gordon, a Colorado resident who was born in Thailand, translated excerpts of a locally banned biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and posted them on his US blog. Gordon pleaded guilty to disseminating information that insulted the monarchy. In November, government minister’s warned that Thailand’s notoriously tough lese-majeste law could even affect “liking” a page on Facebook.
05 Dec 11 | Middle East and North Africa, Uncategorized
It has been reported that a US-born Syrian blogger was arrested on Sunday. In a statement, the Syrian Centre for Media and Free Expression said that Razan Ghazzawi, 30, was arrested by Syrian officials at the Syrian and Jordan border while attempting to leave Syria to attend a conference for advocates of free press in the Arab world in Amman, Jordan.
Ghazzawi is a blogger and human rights advocate, and has been actively documenting human rights violations and arrests in Syria since the start of the uprising against Bashar Al-Assad in March. She is one of the few Syrian bloggers to do so without an alias. Syrian authorities have yet to comment on the arrest. Ghazzawi’s last post before her arrest celebrated the release of the arrested blogger and activist Hussein Ghrer, who was held for 37 days. She wrote:
Hussein is going to be home tonight, where he will be holding his wife tight, and never let go of his two precious sons again. It’s all going to be alright, and it will all be over very soon.
Activists and supporters have turned to Twitter to campaign for her release, using the hashtag #FreeRazan to comment on her arrest.
