Thursday
Jul232009
Crackdown on Egypt's Islamist bloggers
Issandr El Amrani
Three major Egyptian Islamist bloggers have been arrested over the last 48 hours, Global Voices reports:
These guys are among the most influential young Islamist bloggers in Egypt, generally voices for dialogue with other currents and reform inside the Muslim Brotherhood. They are among the people campaigning for the release of Dr. Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, the prominent member of the MB's Guidance Council who has articulated reformist tendencies more clearly than any other leader. Let's hope they are quickly released.
Update: Menassat has a write-up, quoting from here but also with additional info.
Today, July 22, 2009, seems to be a start of a series of crackdown on bloggers in Egypt, as 3 young bloggers were arrested separately. The first blogger is Ahmad Abu Khalil, who was taken from his home in the dawn.
State Security forces broke into Ahmad's house and confiscated his books. The State Security did not inform his family about the accusations against the son, or as to where he will be taken. However, he is most likely being held in Nasr City State Security headquarter.
Ahmad who blogs at Al- Bayareq (means: lanterns), identifies himself as an ‘Islamist’. And he used to write about his life.
The other two bloggers are Abdel Rahman Ayyash and Magy Sa'd, who have been arrested at the Cairo Airport, since yesterday night. The two bloggers were coming back from a visit to Turkey. Ayyash is running ‘Abdel Rahman's Blog‘ , while Magdy is writing at ‘Yalla Mesh Mohem’ blog, (means: OK it doesn't matter).
These guys are among the most influential young Islamist bloggers in Egypt, generally voices for dialogue with other currents and reform inside the Muslim Brotherhood. They are among the people campaigning for the release of Dr. Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, the prominent member of the MB's Guidance Council who has articulated reformist tendencies more clearly than any other leader. Let's hope they are quickly released.
Update: Menassat has a write-up, quoting from here but also with additional info.
Reader Comments (6)
this is ridiculous. arresting these bloggers just doesn't make any sense.
It's part of an increase in harassment of Muslim Brothers, I suppose.
[...] and Madgy Saad were detained yesterday. The Arabist writes that these three young bloggers are influential voices calling for reform within the Muslim Brotherhood. Additionally, they advocate for the release of [...]
@Joseph Its just another intent to oppress freedom of opinion in a very stupit obvious way...
These bloggers have no influence at all, I am not sure what are you basing this information on? I even doubt the importance of blogging in general in making any meaningful change in Egypt's political life. Ayyesh was campaigning for abu el fotoh release? His blog does not even have one mention of abu el fotoh and his arrest. I am afraid we're inflating these kids, and overlooking the actual leaders who are able to deliver reform within the MB and in Egypt; and by those I mean Abu el fotoh himself, Essam el Elrian, and others
totally agree with AGM, they really have no influence... moreover, Magdy Saad has actually stopped blogging one year ago! he is no longer a blogger, so his arrest does not make any sense...