I hope the Chimperator does not get any new ideas from his buddies in Saudi Arabia as to how to treat American bloggers, particularly since this is no longer the land of liberty and freedom and the Chimperator can currently have you, me or any other citizen arrested at his directive and detained indefinitely with no right to trial or other recourse - much like the court of Star Chamber once did some centuries ago in England. Here is a letter sent to the Saudi Government on one Saudi blogger's behalf behalf:
Your Royal Highness:
The Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to protest the continued detention of Fouad Ahmed al-Farhan, a leading Saudi blogger who has been held without charge since early December 2007. The Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to protest the continued detention of Fouad Ahmed al-Farhan, a leading Saudi blogger who has been held without charge since early December 2007.
We believe al-Farhan is being held for comments published on his Web site, Alfarhan.org. We believe al-Farhan is being held for comments published on his Web site, Alfarhan.org. On December 10, Saudi security agents detained al-Farhan at the Jeddah office of the IT company he owns. On December 10, Saudi security agents detained al-Farhan at the Jeddah office of the IT company he owns. Security agents later visited his home and confiscated his laptop. Security agents later visited his home and confiscated his laptop.
This week, nearly a month after al-Farhan’s detention, Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry at last acknowledged that he has been detained, but would not give the reason for his incarceration. This week, nearly a month after al-Farhan's detention, Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry at last acknowledged that he has been detained, but would not give the reason for his incarceration. Ministry spokesman Gen. Ministry spokesman Gen. Mansour al-Turki was quoted by several newspapers as saying that al-Farhan was being questioned “about violating non-security regulations” but would not elaborate. Mansour al-Turki was quoted by several newspapers as saying that al-Farhan was being questioned "about violating non-security regulations" but would not elaborate. Calls from CPJ to the Saudi Embassy in Washington were not returned. Calls from CPJ to the Saudi Embassy in Washington were not returned.
In an e-mail sent to friends prior to his arrest, al-Farhan explained that he had received a phone call from the Saudi Interior Ministry instructing him to prepare himself “to be picked up in the coming two weeks” for questioning by a high-ranking official. In an e-mail sent to friends prior to his arrest, al-Farhan explained that he had received a phone call from the Saudi Interior Ministry instructing him to prepare himself "to be picked up in the coming two weeks" for questioning by a high - ranking official. He also stated in the e-mail that he believed he was being summoned “because I wrote about the political prisoners here in Saudi Arabia and they think I’m running an online campaign promoting their issue.” In one of his last posts before his detention, al-Farhan sharply criticized 10 influential Saudi business, religious, and media figures. He also stated in the e-mail that he believed he was being summoned "because I wrote about the political prisoners here in Saudi Arabia and they think I'm running an online campaign promoting their issue." In one of his last posts before his detention, al-Farhan sharply criticized 10 influential Saudi business, religious, and media figures.
Your Royal Highness, we find it deplorable that Saudi authorities would continue to hold our colleague in near secrecy after nearly a month. Your Royal Highness, we find it deplorable that Saudi authorities would continue to hold our colleague in near secrecy after nearly a month. Arbitrarily detaining a writer and holding him for weeks without saying why violates the most basic norms for free expression and serves as a chilling reminder to those seeking to express their opinions. Arbitrarily detaining a writer and holding him for weeks without saying why violates the most basic norms for free expression and serves as a chilling reminder to those seeking to express their opinions. It also runs counter to official Saudi statements in support of reform and a more open press. It also runs counter to official Saudi statements in support of reform and a more open press.
During meetings with CPJ representatives in Riyadh in 2006, Saudi officials affirmed the country’s commitment to gradual reforms and praised the recent loosening of restrictions on the local press. During meetings with CPJ representatives in Riyadh in 2006, Saudi officials affirmed the country's commitment to gradual reforms and praised the recent loosening of restrictions on the local press. We urge you to use all your influence to ensure that our colleague Fouad al-Farhan is released at once. We urge you to use all your influence to ensure that our colleague Fouad al-Farhan is released at once.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter and we look forward to your reply. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and we look forward to your reply.
Sincerely yours,
Joel Simon, Executive Director Executive Director
CC: His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Abdelaziz Al-Saud,
Crown Prince and Minister of Defense
His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Abdelaziz Al-Saud,
Crown Prince and Minister of Defense
His Royal Highness Prince Nayef Bin Abdelaziz Al-Saud, Minister of Interior
His Royal Highness Prince Nayef Bin Abdelaziz Al-Saud, Minister of Interior
The Honorable Ford M. Fraker, U.S. Fraker, US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Louise Arbour, U.N.
Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
American Society of Newspaper Editors
American Society of Newspaper Editors
Amnesty International Amnesty International
Article 19 (United Kingdom) Article 19 (United Kingdom)
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
Freedom Forum Freedom House
Human Rights Watch Index on Censorship Index on Censorship
International Center for Journalists
International Federation of Journalists
International PEN International PEN
International Press Institute
The Newspaper Guild
The North American Broadcasters Association
Overseas Press Club
Reporters Sans Frontières
The Society of Professional Journalists
World Association of Newspapers
World Press Freedom Committee
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