May
Egyptian leaders fear Facebook
PHOTO: Internet Cafe in Cairo. Paul Nendick, flickr.
Facebook could be an Arab leader’s worst nightmare. An open forum for discussion, networking and planning that’s not easily controlled? The prospect would make the most ruthless dictator shudder.
That’s what Egyptian officials did recently when they detained Esraa Abdel-Fattah, a Facebook user and founder of the site’s group “6 April: A Nationwide Strike”. The goal of the group was to organize a peaceful strike to protest rising food prices. At the heart of the matter is bread, a staple in the Egyptian diet. Wheat prices have rapidly increased this year and the Egyptian government has spent an extra $850 million to cover the costs of government subsidized bread.
Abdel-Fattah, 23, was detained for 16 days and has been reluctant to speak about her detention. Others, however, have not been so quiet. In an ironic twist sure to delight the Egyptian government, a Facebook group called “Free Esraa and her Companions!” demanded the release of Abdel-Fattah and other bloggers or online rabble-rousers who are still being pestered by authorities.
