I am a: Quirky sysadmin. Geek. Gamer. Comic fangirl. My little space, my home on the interwebs. I blog about personal stuffs, work, various coding projects, and anything else I feel like.

Having been born and raised in this country, sometimes it’s too easy to take for granted exactly how good I have it as compared to other parts of the world. As an American citizen, I have many rights that others do not. One of which is the first amendment. Ratified on December 15, 1791, the Amendment states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I was reading a post by Jane Novak today about a prominent pro-democracy journalist in Yemen who is facing a jail sentence again for simply printing the truth, and speaking his mind.

Renowned journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani is one of Yemen’s most prominent democracy advocates – for which he has paid a steep price. His paper has been closed, his website blocked, and his children threatened. He is now due to be sentenced on May 21 for “insulting the president” and “demoralizing the military.”

During his arrest in June of 2007, Al-Khaiwani was beaten and his six-year-old daughter slapped unconscious. While released on bail in August, Al-Khaiwani was kidnapped and tortured by thugs who threatened his life if he continued to write about Yemen’s president.

As al-Khaiwani’s sentencing approaches, there is growing fear a guilty verdict will open the door for a brutal crackdown on Yemen’s already-endangered journalistic community. Join with al-Khawiani’s supporters in Yemen and throughout the world as we urge the Yemeni government not to imprison journalists for their work.

More on this:

Al-Khaiwani stands on principle for free speech. When he was arrested in 2004 (for “insulting the president”), prison guards broke his jaw — yet he still refused to agree to stop writing. In June of 2007, he was re-arrested on similar charges and dragged outside in his underwear. After being released on bail, he abducted by gunmen who broke his fingers threatened to kill him if he “wrote another word against the president or national unity.”

Civil rights advocates inside Yemen and abroad believe the charges against al-Khaiwani are unsubstantiated and simply punishment for his critical reporting. In fact, one of the main pieces of evidence used against him by prosecutors is an unpublished article criticizing Yemen’s president.

You can help!

At the behest of my Cotillion sister, I urge you to simply send a letter. It’s pre-filled, and you can opt-in for updates if you want, as well as choose to hide your information on the ‘signed’ listings. (For updates you can read Jane’s blog and get other news — like the latest on the USS Cole bombers.)

As I hear it, this is due to get some major media coverage in the region, so every bit of support is needed. All it takes is just one minute of your time to click and send the letter.

Also covering this story:

(let me know if I’m missing anyone!)

• Armies of Liberation
• My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
• Cathouse Chat
• The Jawa Report
• Not Ready for my Burqua
• Zoey @ Blatherings
• Six Meat Buffet
• Conservative Belle
• Villainous Company
• Ace of Spades
• Nice Deb
• Alabama Improper
• Stop the ACLU
• The Dread Pundit Bluto
• Ft. Hard Knox (Honor Roll)
• The Right-wing Liberal
• Campaign For a Free Media in Yemen
• Right Pundits
• World Press
• Double Plus Undead
• Scarlett Crusader
• Blue Star Chronicles
• Hot Air (headlines)
• Political Vindication
• Interested Participant
• Tennessee Free
• Political Pistachio News
• Girl on the Right
• Ironic Surrealism II
• Dean’s World
• Free Yemen Portal
• Stable of Zionist
• SoCon or Bust
• Hooah Wife and Friends
• BlackFive
• Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
• All American Blogger
• Conservative Belle
• Blog Catalog: Bloggers Unite for Human Rights (courtesy of Beth)