Fouad Al Farhan Freed
Saudi blogger Fouad Al Farhan was freed after several months in prison, which he served (unjustly!) due to his blog posts. Throughout this time, this site was campaigning for his unconditional release. Congratulations to Fouad and his family. We are really happy to see him safe and free, however I wonder if he will continue blogging after what had happened. Let’s hope that he will never endure what he has gone through these past few months.
Previous posts about Fouad by authors of MEY, actively condemning his imprisonment:
However, Kareem Amer is STILL IN PRISON. It has been a year and 6 months now! His case is one of the most serious when it comes to the regional blogosphere and it bothers me that voices for his rights have been distant as of late.
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Finally
welcome back Fouad
When i am happy and when i am sad, i can’t control the flow of my tears. Congradulations Middle East Youth! Fouad! I was just worried for your kids
Wonderful news! Happy for him, especially for his kids.
I think it is a credit to MidEast Youth for raising this and other issues not address. The issue of Free Speech (which this site represents) and hate speech (which we often see in the postings of a few obscure critics) are very important to address. MEY champions free speech and Fouad is proof of that.
Of course, we can’t do much about hate speech and those who promote hate speech except remove the posters from the site.
Keep it up. MEY is the most popular web/blog on Middle East topics on the Internet and this is one reason why it is so.
Ray Hanania
http://www.hanania.com
Best wishes to Fouad and his family.
It is not easy to stand up for something you believe in, especially when so much is at stake. But there are times when we have no choice but to take a position for what we know is right. And at such times we can only hope that the authorities will take into account the nobility of our aspirations, and of the aspirations of our supporters.
In this case, the authorities took note and responded favorably. Let us all hope that their response in this regard bodes well for future such encounters, and for all efforts to realize the full extent of human potential, which in the final analysis will inure to everyone’s mutual benefit.
Congratulations everyone.. This is amazing news.. Though i hate how my university is reacting to this issue, since they blocked both Free Fouad and Fouad’s Blog and no one can access it, but this news is just amazing.. Am glad that the voices were heard before the fists had to make a stage entry.
I miss all of you guys, and I can’t tell how amazing it feels to read that MEY was one of the first to “spread the word”.
Wish Fouad the best of luck in his Life and family, and wish me all of you a great Final Semester, i need all the prayers i can get.
Yours,
Lou..
Good news, indeed ! Was he ever charged with anything ?
Great! A victory for free speech! I hope there will be no lasting effects from his imprisonment, but I’m sure he will have to really watch his ass for at least a while, or expect another visit from the local gendarme. I imagine his relief is incredible! Good for him.
Good luck Lou! Last semester should always be fun.
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