A close friend once told me, “in life, you sometimes meet people whom you only know for a short while, but then have an impact on you that not even many of those you’ve known your whole life can ever match.”
Alaa Abdel Fattah, Razan Ghazzawi and Ali Abdulemam are such people, the special kind who are so principled and passionate about freedom and dignity, they’re willing to risk their well-being for what they believe.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting them and getting to know them during the 2nd Arab Bloggers Meeting in 2009 back in Beirut. I especially remember a long heated argument I had with Razan on an issue that we, at the time, strongly disagreed about.
At first, I was annoyed by what I saw as her diatribes, but eventually, after I explored her blog and spent more time with her, I came to respect and like her for her blunt honesty and staunch stance on gender rights and free speech.
Then earlier today I came across the heart-wrenching news that she had been detained in her native Syria, where she blogged against the monstrous Assad regime openly under her real name. I really hope she’s safe.
On top of that, I also found out that Alaa’s detention under the military regime in Egypt got extended, which means he’ll very probably miss the birth of his first child. Another heart-wrenching piece of news.
Both Alaa and Razan were present at the recent 3rd Arab Bloggers Meeting held in Tunisia.
Unfortunately, our friend Ali Abdulemam, the well-known Bahraini online free speech advocate wasn’t with us. He went into hiding after the Bahraini regime unleashed a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters who took to the streets earlier this year.
I don’t know where he is now, but every once in a while I think about him, and how much he must be missing his young children.
Tonight, they’re in my thoughts. Tonight, I go to bed with a heavy heart.
Tonight, I remind myself that their sacrifices will one day, tomorrow, next week, next year, next decade… one day, their sacrifices will bear their humble fruits.
Pessimism is a choice, and we must do our best to never succumb to it and to never remain in a defeated state.
Take 17 minutes to watch this short powerful documentary,
The “No” Choice, about Alaa and his activist family.
#FreeAlaa, #FreeRazan, and #RememberAli
When they were free: @RedRazan, @alaa and @abdulemam
in Budapest, 2008. Today they’re in jail or in hiding.
Picture courtesy of @chanadbh.
UPDATE: Good news. Both Alaa and Razan are now free.
SudaneseThinker
SudaneseThinker
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
The three of them paid for expressing their thoughts, and they proved that they are real activists whom seek for more human rights and freedom.
I’m honored to be one of Ali’s friends. I feel very terrible when I realize that it has been a while since last meeting, and terrified when I come to the fact that there is no way to make sure that he’s safe and okay. I can’t imagine how Ali’s family are living without him !
I know Loomya, it’s quite a depressing thought. It’s one thing to read news about people like them, but another completely when you’ve met them, spent time with them, joked and laughed with them and heard their stories and perspectives personally.
But one must ultimately stay optimistic and maintain hope, if not for them, then at least for the freedom, dignity and justice we’re all striving for through whatever contributions, big or small.
These are the real heroes of the Arab spring. These are the youth that are so much better at creating a future than those salafis in EG that got one 5th of the votes. Maybe Arabs don’t deserve a future, but a past.
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