Copyright Law

Saudi Blogger Fouad Ahmad Al-Farhan Released

By Sam Bayard

After four months, the Saudi Arabian government has released popular Saudi blogger Fouad Ahmad Al-Farhan without charge. Authorities arrested Fouad in December after warning him about posts supporting an activist group on his blog at ???? ???? ???????. From the time of his arrest, Interior Ministry officials were evasive about the reason for his detention, explaining only that it was not related to state security. Bloggers, journalists, and human rights groups around the world rallied around Fouad, denouncing his detention and calling for his release. Spearheading the effort, the Free Fouad site provided updates, collected press coverage, and offered "Free Fouad" badges for placement on supporters' blogs and websites. In February, protesters demonstrated against the arrest in front of the Saudi embassy in Washington, according to the Washington Post. It's great to hear that Fouad's been released, but chilling to consider the vulnerability of journalists and dissidents under the Saudi regime.

There's lots of coverage out there if you want further details:

• CNET, Saudi blogger freed
  
  
• Washington Post: Saudi Activist Blogger Freed After4 Months in Jail Without Charge
  
  
• CNN: Saudi blogger freed from jail, colleauge says
  
  
• Reuters India: Saudi blogger freed after 4 months jail - colleague
  
  
• SPJ Journalism and the World: Saudi Blogger Freed

Full post as published by Citizen Media Law Project on April 28, 2008 (boomark / email).