Three bloggers freed

Reporters Without Borders is relieved to learn that Abdel Rahman Ayyash and Magdi Saad, two bloggers who were arrested at Cairo airport on 23 July on their return from trips abroad, were released five days later. Ahmad Abu Khalil, a third blogger who was arrested on 23 July at his home, was freed on 10 August. ------------------------------- 27.07.2009 - Three bloggers arrested on same day Reporters Without Borders calls on the Egyptian authorities to explain why police arrested three bloggers – Abdel Rahman Ayyash, Magdi Saad and Ahmad Abu Khalil – last week, two of them on their return from a trip abroad. All three were arrested on the same day, 21 July. “These arrests seem to be yet further evidence of the desire of the security services to silence politically-committed bloggers,” Reporters Without Borders said. “We urge the authorities to state publicly why they are being held.” Ayyash, who writes for Al-Ghareeb (The Foreigner), was arrested at Cairo airport on his return from Turkey, where he took part in a youth conference. Saad, a member of the Muslim Brothers who keeps a widely-read blog called Yalla Mesh Mohem (It’s not important), was also arrested at Cairo airport on his return from a trip abroad. Khalil, who writes for Bayarek (The Lantern), was arrested at his home. Ayyash was transferred on 23 July to the Department of Police and National Security in Mansoura, 120 km northeast of Cairo. Saad was taken to the Department of Police and National Security in Cairo. Khalil’s place of detention is still unknown. Reporters Without Borders does not know if the three men were arrested because of their political activities or because of what they posted online. Their arrests came three weeks after another blogger, Wael Abbas, was arrested at Cairo airport on his return from attending a conference in Sweden in which he openly criticised the Egyptian government in the presence of members of the ruling National Democratic Party. He was held for a day at the airport on “national security” grounds. Egypt is on the Reporters Without Borders list of Enemies of the Internet. At least six bloggers were arrested last year because of their role in online discussion forums.