Comments on: Saudi Blogger Arrested

By: Emir

Emir — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 06:13:24 +0000

When Fouadâ€™s right to express his view in a civilized manner is violated, then the right of all of us to hear his view is violated at the same time!!!

By: Emir

Emir — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 06:12:22 +0000

We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. ~John F. Kennedy

By: Saudi in US

Saudi in US — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 17:02:27 +0000

Sparky, Happy Holidays and thank you. I have done the same yesterday.

By: Sparky

Sparky — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 15:35:11 +0000

I have sent some of the suggested letters out. This is fun. Let us get excited about it not scared. I also read about the 9 reformers who he visited. I read that they wanted to spilt the powers of the Ministry of Interior up in a peaceful way. Not a bad idea. I agree with that idea.

Prince Nayef needs to stop this power kick he is on. He still can still be powerful with his relinguishing of simple basic rights and transparency. Really. Give it up already. We will get in one way or another!!!

By: Abu Joori

Abu Joori — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 12:16:31 +0000

As mentioned by Saudi in US, Fouad was arrested because he wrote about some of the reformers in Saudi who were arrested and the government claimed that they were supporting terrorism which is something they never did. These reformers were working together in order to start some “real” civil society in Saudi. As far as I know, Fouad wrote about two of them because he knew them personally and not because he was part of their group or supported even their cause.

Arresting Fouad because of what he wrote in his blog will cause a lot of hesitation among Saudi bloggers to talk freely about improvement opportunities and problematic areas in the Kingdom. Fouad is totally against terrorism and I do not know any blogger who support change in Saudi via violence.

It is well known and as Fouad once wrote, today almost 50% of Saudis are less then 18 years old, what does such an arrest tell them about tomorrow?, would they really get the message or ignore it and still try to participate in changing the country for the better!.

By: Saudi in US

Saudi in US — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 02:36:13 +0000

Fouad apparently wrote a letter to his friends prior to the arrest (see the link). This is a confirmation that his arrest was related to his blog activities.

http://www.alfarhan.org/archives/171#comments

Also, notice the comment regarding the campaign to get international press attention.

By: Free Fouad » Saudi Blogger Arrested

Free Fouad » Saudi Blogger Arrested — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 07:49:42 +0000

[...] Crossroads Arabia: Saudi Blogger Arrested [...]

By: olivetheoil

olivetheoil — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 04:00:23 +0000

Solomon2:
Just to emphasize: I consider myself a career nomad. I have moved as I needed to without too much thought about the wheres and what-fors. However, whether I personally relocate or not is becoming pretty much moot because many potential employers are expanding to the Middle East and other parts of Asia. I don’t want to see my career prospects hampered because my company decides to open an office in a country where I cannot work. I like my share of the pie and in a globalized world, the only way I can get it is by asking for equal treatment everywhere.

By: olivetheoil

olivetheoil — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:54:21 +0000

Solomon2:
I have no idea where I will be. Wherever I get the best opportunity both in terms of pay and career opportunities.

I like money and I like to shoot my mouth off without too much fear of retaliation:) So I guess my answer is, I’ll go where I can get both.

By: Solomon2

Solomon2 — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:37:31 +0000

It seems the government has learned jack over the past few years

Olive, will you return to Saudi Arabia – to a place like KAUST, perhaps? – or are you planning to remain in the U.S.?