Fouad al-Farhan

Fouad Ahmad al-Farhan (b. 1975 in Taif, Saudi Arabia) is a popular Saudi Arabian blogger and political commentator noted for his advocacy of political reforms on his blog. [ [http://www.alfarhan.org فؤاد أحمد الفرحان ] ] [cite web
title = World & Nation Update: Abroad
work =
publisher = Newsday.com
date = January 01 2008
url = http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-world015521985jan01,0,2085720.story
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accessdate = 2008-01-02 ] Farhan is unusual among Saudi Arabian bloggers because he uses his real name rather than blogging under a pseudonym. [cite web
title = Blogger Detained in Saudi Arabia
work =
publisher = Associated Press
date = January 02 2008
url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iNxQ0lEbE_npD19D_YeUP9RsOwuAD8TTCMS80
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accessdate = 2008-01-02 ] Farhan had stopped blogging for a period after being told by government officials to "tone down" his commentary.cite web
title = Dissident Saudi Blogger Is ArrestedPopular Internet Commentator Had Called for Political Reform
work =
publisher = The Washington Post Company
date = January 01 2008
url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/31/AR2007123101915.html
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accessdate = 2008-01-02 ] He resumed posting in July 2007. On Tuesday, December 10, 2007 Farhan was arrested in Jeddah. The arrest was reported by other Arab bloggers, and Saudi authorities confirmed he was being held for "interrogation." [cite web
last = Zoepf
first = Katherine
title = Saudis Confirm Detention of Blogger
work =
publisher = The New York Times
date = January 02 2008
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/world/middleeast/02saudi.html?ei=5065&en=bf9af2ff6de9aeb0&ex=1199854800&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print
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accessdate = 2008-01-02 ] No official charges were relayed. He was held in solitary confinement without charges. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/02/27/saudi.blogger/index.html "No freedom for 'dean of Saudi bloggers'", by Nic Robertson and Wayne Drash, February 27, 2008, CNN] ] He was released from prison on April 26, 2008. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/04/26/saudi.arabia.blogger/index.html "Saudi blogger freed from jail, colleague says", April 26, 2008, CNN] ] [ [http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0428/p07s02-wome.html "Saudi official: Why popular blogger Farhan was jailed", by Caryle Murphy, Christian Science Monitor, April 28, 2008] ]

Reacting to his arrest friends created the website Free Fouad calling for his release. [ [http://en.freefouad.com/ Free Fouad ] ] Gamal Eid, the executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, commented "When the Saudi authorities arrest a young man writing maturely and is against terrorism and calls for reformation, it is a serious indicator for how far are the fanatic and those opposing freedom of expression and reformation are taking over in Saudi Arabia." [ [http://www.hrinfo.net/en/ The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information ] ]

Prior to his arrest Farhan worked as manager at a Smart Info Co. in Jeddah. He holds an M.A. degree in IT from a school in the United States and is married with two daughters.

ee also

*Political freedoms in Saudi Arabia

References