Tuesday 7 June 2011

A Worrying Development

Today's blog is going to have a more sombre tone than many of my posts.

I have written previously about Amina Abdallah Araf al Omari, the half Syrian, half American blogger, i list her as one of the people whose writing inspires me towards wanting to become a journalist.

Since the unrest began in Syria on the 26th January 2011 she has been blogging regularly, honestly and bravely about the experiences that she and her countrymen and women have been going through as they pursue democracy and try and avoid or survive the brutal repression by President Assad and his security forces.

She has repeatedly wrote about the risk of arrest, torture or worse; never fishing for sympathy, merely making sure her readers are aware of the stakes involved in the Arab Spring.

Worryingly in the past two days Amina has been taken by members of the security services. Her cousin has posted two messages since she was taken informing her readers that they don't know where she is or how to contact which ever element of the security forces may have taken her.

I don't know what the future will hold for Amina, her family or the people of Syria but all i can do is hope that she is released soon and that she is unharmed. It may be a naive hope but it's one i'm determined to stick with for as long as possible. If you're reading this and religious, if you want to pray for her i'm sure her family would appreciate it.

If you want to read Amina's work or follow any news of her current status i'd advise you read her blog - http://damascusgaygirl.blogspot.com/

That's all i want to write about today, but i will, as ever, finish with a song for you all.

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