Iraqi Blogger Jailed. Juan Cole says we can help.

[Robbien]

Raed's brother & blogger Khalid has been tossed into jail, apparently for being critical of the Iraqi government on the Web. The arrest was first reported by Riverbend.

Juan Cole says: Please consider writing in protest. The email address is [e-mail].

[kliljedahl]

1. Link?

Keith’s Barbeque Central

[nine23]

2. A bit more background would help...

I'd be glad to, but as I'm not familiar with the man or his blog, more info please. Link? If the blog's down, perhaps it's cached?

[Robbien]

4. Links & a little back story

Riverbend and Salam Pax's friend Raed has a blog called Raed in the Middle and he has been blogging now from Iraq for about two years. After a while Raed's whole family started blogging. Two days ago Raed's blogging brother came up missing and finally yesterday they found out that the Iraqi mukhabarat threw him in jail.

Riverbend and Raed's blogs are here:
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/2005_07_01_riverbendblog_archive.html#112141522130106105
http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com/

Raed's blog indicates they suspect his brother was jailed because of the blog.

The jailed brother's blog is here:
http://secretsinbaghdad.blogspot.com/

[bennywhale]

8. Here's his blog.

http://secretsinbaghdad.blogspot.com/

Its a very interesting and witty read, and is heavily critical of the new Iraqi regime.

His personal accounts of meetings with "goofy" and "friendly" American soldiers are fascinating.

The comments page is full of support for him. Leave a comment and also threaten the security serveices that are reading it with "we are watching you".

The last entry about some "theives" that broke into his house and stole "bits" of his computer his quite eery considering they were probably actually the secret police.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Link to Khalid's blog

http://secretsinbaghdad.blogspot.com/

and to the blog by his brother, reporting it:

http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com/

[tocqueville]

5. freedom is on the march

[shirlden]

6. For Du'ers, a must read !

Khalid has a mother who blogs also. http://afamilyinbaghdad.blogspot.com/

I have been reading her blog for many months. She was in the U.S. for a couple of weeks this past month and her observations on Americans is not to be missed. She is a remarkable and intelligent woman.
I am not sure what we can do to help this family, but we have to try.

:dilemma:

[shirlden]

7. More Information

Helena Cobban's blog at http://www.justworldnews.org, has more. Scroll down to "Faiza's son". In the comment section is this posting...

We at Amigos Para la Paz in San Jose, Costa Rica, have just been informed that Khalid Jarrar, a twenty-three year old engineering student and peace activist working in conjunction with Friends, has been abducted from his university in Baghdad. His abduction occurred within the last fourty-eight hours and he was taken to Mokhabarat prison in Iraq. Although we have no further details, and the charges against him have not been stated, his father received a call from Khalid during the last twenty-four hours saying only, he was in prison.

Khalid Jarrar has dedicated his life to helping Iraqi citizens who are victims of the war to receive medication. He has worked with Mèdicins Sans Frontiere, Friends and Iraqi doctors. Khalid describes himself stating, I am pro God, I am pro life, I am pro humanity, I am pro truth, and when the American government chooses to be against all that then damn it: i AM anti American-government. We know him as a kind and gentle soul, and a devout religious Sunni who believes God sends him many brothers and sisters from various religions to work toward peace.

The urgency of Khalid´s situation prevents us from further elaborating the positive and powerful influence he has had on the human rights crisis in Iraq. We are calling on you to activate your local, national, and international networks to inform the press and government officials both of his abduction and undoubted innocence. Join us in working toward a peaceful resolution to Kahlid`s abduction. Free Khalid!

Sincerely,

Isabel Macdonald, Coordinator, Amigos Para la Paz

Christiane S Harrison, Volunteer,
Posted by Christiane S. Harrison at 15.07.2005 10:47

To-day Juan Cole reports the arrest of Khalid too. He offers this Email address [e-mail] to write in his support, for his release or for a rapid trial. Why he says that Riverbend was the first to report about the fact is beyond my head (she links to Raed's blog, one of Khalid's brothers).

I wonder whether the Americans didn't pressure the Iraqis to jail Khalid, in order to silence Faiza's voice in America.

Faiza, I'm with you and your family in thoughts in these hard days and hope that Khalid will soon be released unharmed.
Posted by Christiane at 16.07.2005 05:05