Syrian Blogger Arrested in Saudi Arabia

Syrian blogger Raafat al-Ghanem was arrested by Saudi intelligence in Riyadh, according to an August 6 statement posted online by the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression.



Ghanem, a 25 year-old Syrian who lives in Saudi Arabia, was summoned on July 29 by the Saudi immigration and passports office and was taken to an unknown location, the statement said.



The same evening, Saudi police went into Ghanem’s house and confiscated his personal computer’s hard disc.



Ghanem writes about social and political issues on his blog called Difaf (http://www.elaphblog.com/raafat) and contributes to many other Saudi and Syrian blogs as well as other forums and websites.



The young blogger regularly criticises social and political practices in Syria and Saudi Arabia. He has also attacked the activities of the Saudi religious police and recently signed a petition addressed to Saudi King Abdullah asking him to release detained Saudi bloggers and writers.



The media centre condemned the arrest and called on Saudi authorities to release Ghanem immediately. It also urged the Syrian foreign minister to intervene with Saudi authorities to have Ghanem released.



The centre said that it would complain about the detention to the Saudi embassy in Damascus and the Syrian ambassador in Riyadh.