Caught in the web
Repressive regimes are increasingly cracking down on blogging provocateurs
Daniel Tseghay
Across the world, citizen journalists are setting up their own blogs where they can post criticisms and damning evidence against their respective governments. But for every action there is a reaction — many regimes have stepped up their suppression of these brave and critical citizens.
CHINA
China has arrested 11 bloggers between 2003 and 2008. One of these bloggers, He Weihua, wrote about human rights abuses and advocated democratic reforms. For his efforts, he has twice been confined to a psychiatric hospital (in 2004 and 2007) and nearly been run over by a motorcycle. Lately, potential Chinese cyber dissidents have been greeted by online police officers who offer helpful reminders on what the Internet should, and shouldn’t, be used for.
UNITED STATES
Journalist and video blogger Josh Wolf was imprisoned in 2006 after posting a video on his blog showing an anti-G8 demonstration in San Francisco. Police wanted Wolf’s unedited footage in order to investigate an attempted arson, but he refused to comply and was charged with contempt. It led to Wolf serving about seven and a half months in prison, the longest period any journalist has ever served in the U.S. for refusing to disclose sources.
SAUDI ARABIA
This conservative country is known to have arrested only one blogger over the last five years, but he was one of Saudi Arabia’s most widely read. Fouad alFarhan was arrested in December 2007 for writing about political corruption, calling for reform and discussing Saudi Arabia’s political prisoners. Authorities told him he would be released if he signed a statement of apology, which he refused; he remained imprisoned for five and a half months.
EGYPT
Since 2003, Egypt has arrested a whopping 14 citizens for blogging — many of them for the dubious crime of voicing criticisms against their government. One of those individuals was Hala Helmy Botros, who in 2007 spent a weekend in jail for advocating religious freedom for Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority on her blog, “Copts Without Borders,” which was also permanently shut down. State security officers continue to monitor her phone calls and emails.
IRAN
Eight Iranians have been arrested between 2003 and 2008, including student blogger Kianush Sanjari, who was released only after posting a bail of over US$100,000 and enduring solitary confinement in the infamous Evin prison.
CANADA
New Brunswick blogger Charles LeBlanc was arrested in June 2006 while taking photos of demonstrators outside a conference in Saint John, the only known instance of an imprisoned blogger in Canada. LeBlanc spent four hours in jail and was later acquitted of all charges. One of the arresting officers had testified that LeBlanc was targeted for arrest because he looked “scruffy” and his digital camera appeared unprofessional.
