It’s worth noting the arrests this week of three bloggers in Egypt – one of the 10 worst countries to be a blogger, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Those arrested are: Abdel Rahman Ayyash, Al-Ghareeb (The Stranger); Magdi Saad, formerly of Yalla Mesh Mohem (Who Cares); and Ahmad Abu Khalil, Bayarek (The Lanterns).

Since they are all Islamists, they probably won’t get much sympathy in the west. But the issue here is free speech, not their politics. More details from Menassat, Global Voices and The Arabist.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 25 July 2009