Fouad al-Farhan

Fouad al-Farhan Alghamdi
فؤاد الفرحان الغامدي
Born 1975
Taif, Saudi Arabia
Nationality Saudi
Religion Islam
Children 2[1]

Fouad Ahmad Alfarhan is a popular Saudi Arabian blogger and political commentator noted for his advocacy of political reforms on his blog.[2][3] Farhan is unusual among Saudi Arabian bloggers because he uses his real name rather than blogging under a pseudonym.[4] Farhan had stopped blogging for a period after being told by government officials to "tone down" his commentary.[5] 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."[5][6] No official charges were relayed. He was held in solitary confinement without charges.[7] He was released from prison on April 26, 2008.[8][9]

Reacting to his arrest, friends created the website Free Fouad calling for his release.[10] 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."[11]

Prior to his arrest Farhan worked as a manager at Smart Info Co. in Jeddah. He holds an M.A. degree in IT from Ball State University in Muncie, IN. He is married and has two children, Raghad and Khetab. Fouad Al-Farhan is optimistic about the potential for blogging in Saudi Arabia, having said that "If we worked hard to spread blogging in Saudi Arabia, and convinced some influential people to adopt it, then we will gain the benefits of blogging in the same way Western societies did" he says, "we have to move on." [12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Fouad al-Farhan (12 May 2010). تعريف (in Arabic). Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  2. ↑ فؤاد أحمد الفرحان
  3. ↑ "World & Nation Update: Abroad". Newsday.com. 1 January 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  4. ↑ "Blogger Detained in Saudi Arabia". Associated Press. January 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  5. 1 2 "Dissident Saudi Blogger Is Arrested Popular Internet Commentator Had Called for Political Reform". The Washington Post Company. January 1, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  6. ↑ Zoepf, Katherine (January 2, 2008). "Saudis Confirm Detention of Blogger". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  7. ↑ "No freedom for 'dean of Saudi bloggers'", by Nic Robertson and Wayne Drash, February 27, 2008, CNN
  8. ↑ "Saudi blogger freed from jail, colleague says", April 26, 2008, CNN
  9. ↑ "Saudi official: Why popular blogger Farhan was jailed", by Caryle Murphy, Christian Science Monitor, April 28, 2008
  10. ↑ Free Fouad
  11. ↑ The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
  12. ↑ Katagogi - Fouad Al Farhan
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