Always Remembering Fouad..
To: The Saudi Man and Woman out there, and anyone interested. From: An Angry Saudi. Subject: Who’s he again?
So, ladies and gentlemen. What’s next?
Apparently they know about him more than half of our population ever did. And it seems to bother them more than half of our population ever thought of looking his way. I mean, he’s one of us, but apparently we’re just turning a blind eye to him.
To be honest, I tried giving you, ladies and gentlemen, the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you rebelled in a way where you were slapped into complete submission and avoidance of ever opening it up. But the thing is, the funny thing actually, you people didn’t even TALK about it to begin with. Maybe some gutsy 2 or 3 of you, or maybe more, but definitely way less than the rest who thought flipping through ArabSat and watch a video clip or two..Or thought it’s even more important to worry about some bimbo being kicked off Star Academy, and how much she’s worth our time more than this guy am talking about.
But, no, you don’t see pride in him more than you see pride in Hisham who’s making a TV show called Cash Taxi, or whatever. Another form of exploitation we’re supporting more than another form of reformation. Do we even want reform? am starting to doubt it.
I mean, seriously, ladies and gentlemen, do you even KNOW who am I talking about?
Maybe some of you, who are familiar with what i spoke about earlier. But most of you might not even know what the hell am talking about.
To be fair, I’ll give you some hints so maybe, just MAYBE, you’d know who am talking about, so that you won’t say am blaming you on things that you’re clueless about.
- He spoke his mind publicly, with no regard of who might read, but respected other freedoms. He was free in a religiously-supported way.
- He expressed his views in the most peaceful way possible in our time, and never asked anyone to hold a machete or carry a torch.
- He’s a family man, who loves his wife and children, and wants to help society in whatever way he can in this country, and it happens to be through awareness.
- He cared, and was caught for love of the COUNTRY.
- He knew that patriotism is by love of the land, and the meaning of the country, more than love for those who run it. If you’re loving who’s running it, you’re being a fan. If you’re loving the country and what it means to you, that’s patriotic. So, logically, he’s more patriotic than the most of us.
- He had activities online, and spoke more on one occasion on TV, and promoted nothing more than three things (awareness, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech). Last time I checked, none was violent, none crossed any logical lines, all had good intent, and all were done with a religious conscious.. And last time i checked, my religion actually rooted for that..
- He once feared to be forgot by the same people he endangered himself for.. And his fear is growing towards being truthful as days pass.
- He was “abducted” on 11th of December.
[ NOTE: The reason why i believe it's an abduction, is because he suddenly disappeared without any reasons to be declared publicly about his whereabouts or the reason behind his disappearance.. At least, no LEGAL reason.. ]
If you still don’t know him. Then YOU lady and gentleman, are more clueless than the cursed some who aren’t. and I don’t blame you. and WHY are we cursed? well, all we can do is vent through letters and words. We’re tied and bound by the many restrictions.
If you don’t want to know him, and rather flip through another topic, and you happen to be a Saudi.. Then you need to know what values do you live for, and what wrongs you’re against, because you’re a disgrace.. He’s there for you, be there for him.
If you still don’t know him. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Fouad Al Farhan.
Yours,
Lou
P.s. Changed your mind and want to make a difference? or just try to?
Latest Updates on Fouad’s Case – not a very shiny update if you ask me
Join the Conversation
It’s funny (or actually quite sad) that people who do most for individuals like Fouad are always the outsiders, and sometimes I wonder if it’s really for fear of their security. I know for a fact that people in the Gulf have become so apathetic, so helpless about these things.
Or perhaps it’s a problem within the whole Arab world. When Kareem got arrested, it was the international community that won him a lot of support and helped us run the campaign. I didn’t see many Arabs and Muslims supporting him, even though we tried our best to include them in our efforts. This, it turns out, was mostly because Kareem was writing about things that they personally did not agree with, and so his imprisonment was justified and “well deserved.”
It’s the same with Fouad. I have several Saudi friends who told me “Fouad had a big mouth so he deserved it.” How can one say this about their own fellow citizen, one brave enough to fight for his rights and the rights of others?
It makes me sick.
Anyways, I e-mailed them your article. I hope they’ll read it and perhaps find it within their hearts to fight for a better Saudi.
In the meantime you keep writing and reaching out to others out there, but beware of the nasty criticism you might get.
I already got a dozen hate mail and threats on my “Who’s Fouad Again?” topic when i posted it in Facebook and on some other message boards around the web.. People say that i shouldn’t stand by someone who dislikes our “way of life” as if it’s a perfect way.. I wonder what both logic and Islam have to say about this
I even posted a topic later on on how Islam is actually protecting people like Fouad, and i got slapped with a ban from two websites
So, don’t worry about me. I just fear that the last article linked in my post is not true, that he’s being tortured.. All this for Asking for reform. I wonder, if a carried a sign would i deserve an islamic capital punishment?
It’s sad what we’re growing to.. I think i might poke around other “abducted” Saudi activists, but that’s what got Fouad in trouble in the first place..
Pray?
The Amnesty article is not true. They have a tendency to over-exaggerate things, usually to scare people into action or something.
As far as I know, Amnesty doesn’t seem to have a direct link to Fouad, so why rely on such sources? No credible source is saying that he’s being tortured. So I don’t buy it. Amnesty always wrote about other bloggers being tortured when there were often no signs of such torture when they were freed, and many noted their experiences were mild in comparison to others. So Amnesty is definitely not the best source for info – besides, the title itself says, “fears,” meaning he’s not actually being tortured as far as they or any of us know.
I know.. I just fear it’s true, because i know how things tend to be in prisons.. Especially when it’s politics-related in Saudi..
There was a 3/4 page article in the “NRC Handelsblad”, a major Dutch newspaper this weekend (9/10 February) on the situation of bloggers in Arab countries, including a large picture of the Free Fuad website. It was written by Mona Eltahawy (Professor at the American University in Cairo, born in Egypt, lives in New York). Main message: blogs provide a unique media outlet for young people, in contrast to traditional media including Al Jazeera. And: even one person with one blog can incite much anger and lead to imprisonment. Farhan is discussed extensively, as are some other bloggers like ‘Saudigirl’.
Lou, You really have a good point, but most people, and I mean everywhere not just the ME, have a real problem getting involved in trouble they don’t see as their own. Many times I’ve seen people scurry away like rats from problems right on the street in front of them. Either they don’t have the strength, they don’t care, or they’re just too damn scared. For example, how many kids have seen daddy kickin’ mom’s ass and done nothing? In the US, all it takes is a call to 911. Or just pick up a baseball bat and go to work with it. Thank the Good God that there are people like Fouad, and Esra’a, and yourself that are able to overcome the fear that goes with “speaking out” in your situations. Raised as I have been you’ve all helped me appreciate what I have here…..even when it pisses me off. Thanks y’all. I appreciate you, and probably many more do. They just don’t have the guts to stand up like you do. Feel sorry for them, and bless you all.
Just as Esra’a wrote – there’s more international coverage of Fouad’s detention than in Saudi / Arab media.
And even there will be no more articles about him in a few months… and Fouad’s case is one which actually got highlighted by bloggers so that the mainstream media knows about him. That’s not even the way it goes usually – just think of the recently started Free Tariq campaign. That guy spends more than half a year in prison and literally nobody cared till a month ago…
Lou, does it seem to you that most of us are brain dead most of the time? We go about our business, doing the things we do, and going where we want to go. But rarely do we take note of where the hell we’re heading. And even more rare do any of us take action to make a real difference.
We are like a train heading non-stop to fulfill its destiny. God forbid we should stop and take note of what is really important, and what really needs to be done.
My guess is, however, that our mutual self-interests are converging, the world over, and that soon enough, we will have no choice but to consider each other’s situation, and take action to help one another out. We either come to terms with out inter-connectedness, or we’re going down, as has been the case with 99% of the species that have been here on this good earth.
Konrad,
Thank you so much for that comment, I appreciate it really..
Simon,
Fouad was caught for many reasons, including talking about past prisoners.. People have been held captive for years now with no charge, and Fouad’s fear is to be like them. With the Saudi low rate of awareness, or choosing not to care, he might be.
Nissim,
That’s one true image..
Thank you all so much for you amazing comments.. I hope Saudis get to read this as well..
Yours,
Lou
Pingback: Global Voices Online » Saudi Arabia: Remembering Fouad Al Farhan
He will be freed because he has not Done any thing wrong!
I was checking this blog with his picture and the pictures of his kids, I cannot understand why they are keeping him, well in case he comes out he could be monitored, but that is better than being in jail..
i wouldn’t be so sure about that, he’s not the first one to go “behind the sun” for unknown reasons.. But inshallah the media pressure will cause the walls to fall down at least, to show us what’s really going with Fouad..
Stay posted for more updates..
.
.
.
Yours,
Lou..
Pingback: Global Voices بالعربية » السعودية: في ذكرى فؤاد الفرحان
Thank you Lou,
Amen, I hope the media pressure and change of view regarding his blog all lead to his release.
Hi Lou,
I hope you are doing alright:)
Just wanted to know if there is any news from Fouad’s side:)
No news.. All i know is that it’s coming to the public’s attention that Fouad has been held captive for more than 2 months now, and sadly, it’s written in the Saudi law that no one would be held in solidary confinement for more than 90 days.. Other than that, there’s still rumors of him coming out soon, but like i said, it’s just rumors..
Moreover, the only people the media can get in touch with for more information is his father in law who made the visits to him.. The local news paper, Arab News, wasn’t allowed to make a small interview with fouad concerning anything..
.
.
All i know is that the government is betting that the public would just let go, like the public did in many other issues.. Which is pissing me off even more..
Sorry for the late reply, but i faced some minor problems during the past week..
.
.
.
Yours,
Lou..
Pingback: Fouad Al Farhan Freed - Mideast Youth - Thinking Ahead