#FreeSafy – Bahrain Arrests Blogger in Dawn Raid
Bahraini blogger Mohammed Hassan was arrested from his home in an early morning raid today [July 31]. According to reports, police raided his Sitra home and arrested him, confiscating his telephone and computer in the process. Reports also claim they had an arrest warrant.
The arrest of Mohammed, known as Safy, and who is a Global Voices Online author who has covered Bahrain, drew criticism from netizens. UAE commentator Sultan Al Qassemi tweets:
Sorry to hear that Bahraini blogger @safybh has been arrested. I met him in December, he hasn't written or tweeted in months.
— שחררו את פלסטין (@SultanAlQassemi) July 31, 2013
In a follow up comment, he says the arrest of bloggers was a sign of the times in the region:
@alaashehabi @JustAmira @Redbelt I tweeted in the 2011 that we were entering a dark decade in the Gulf. I'm sorry to say I was right.
— שחררו את פלסטין (@SultanAlQassemi) July 31, 2013
And activist Alaa Al Shehabi replies:
@SultanAlQassemi @justamira @redbelt Just the Gulf? Feels like the dark ages. I am very worried about him. We all r probably next.
— آلاء الشهابي (@alaashehabi) July 31, 2013
This sentiment of an impending crackdown on netizens is a recurring theme this morning. Mohammed Al Maskati, who was previously arrested at the beginning of protests in Bahrain in March 2011, asks:
Shall we pack our bags? Who is next? #FreeSafy
— Mohammed AlMaskati (@emoodz) July 31, 2013
Like many, Maskati does not believe there needs to be a reason for people to be arrested in restive Bahrain:
.@safybh is unlikely arrested for his online activities, he didn't tweet nor update his blog in over 3 months.. Then again this is #Bahrain
— Mohammed AlMaskati (@emoodz) July 31, 2013
Jalal Al Jazeeri salutes Safy for his stance:
To take a stand knowing that in all likelihoods you'll be persecuted, penalized, and punished for it,.. that's incredibly bold. #FreeSafy
— Jalal Aljazeeri (@j_theislander) July 31, 2013
Mohammed Al Daaysi says:
This is the kind of sham security they boast about #FreeSafy
— Mohammed Al Daaysi (@MDaaysi) July 31, 2013
And Salma can't find a reason why a blogger like Safy would be arrested:
I don’t get it. He’s a pacifist, a writer. What possible security risk can he pose? except to the security of the ignorant mind.. #FreeSafy
— salma (@salmasays) July 31, 2013
In April, Safy announced the closure of his blog:
All good things come to an end.
Though my message might have not ended I think my points were delivered, I think it is time now to put a period, close this notebook and start a new one
He has also stopped tweeting since then.
Thousands of people have been arrested since protests calling for political and economic reforms started in Bahrain on February 14, 2011. The witch hunt continues.
via Global Voices » Feature http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/07/31/freesafy-bahrain-arrests-blogger-in-dawn-raid/
Labels: Global Voices » Feature, IFTTT
posted by Stephen Downes @ 10:13 AM
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