Diana Mukkaled in Sharq al Awsat on Aláa and the importance of the blog

Diana Mukkaled wrote an op-ed about Alaa, his and Manals blog and the importance of the blog on the english website of Sharq al awsat on the 22th, among other things, this is how she concluded:

¨The detention of Egyptian bloggers created an electronic turmoil that is no less important than the demonstrations in the streets of Cairo. Egyptian bloggers have received numerous messages of support but have also been mocked and derided.

Alaa and other Egyptian blogger’s popularity reflect the inability of government to control or restrict communication between individuals and the exchange of ideas and opinions. In these circumstances, one has to feel grateful for modern technologies as well as the sheer determination of activists and young people in using these technologies to overcome surveillance, arrest and detention.

While the police did not hesitate to use force and beat Egytpian protestors and bloggers, this has only made them more determined and re-affirmed the importance of weblogs.¨

Also, Mark Glaser has a nice piece on the campaign for Alaa, and the other arrested, in Mediashift.

Amr brings us the good news that four of the six arrested bloggers are out, Malek , Shrqawi, Adel and AsShaer, while Alaá and Asmaá(one of four women) is stil inside.

Alaa abd al Fattah, Alaa Ahmed Seif al Islam, Judges club, arrests, Kifayya, Emergency law, arrested bloggers , political activism, Hesham Bastawissi, Mahmoud Mekky, Egypt ,Free Alaa