Big Brothers: In Egypt, Blogging Can Get You Arrested--Or Worse by Wael Abbas

Big BrothersIn Egypt, blogging can get you arrested—or worse.

By Wael Abbas

Posted Monday, May 14, 2007, at 1:45 PM ET

Screen capture of manalaa.net. Click image to expand.The popular Egyptian blog Manalaa.net.

So, you woke up this morning on the right side of the bed, and you decided to start a blog. Who cares? It is your own choice, you are free to blog as well as not to blog—it depends only on your interests and willingness to express yourself.

Except, in Egypt, the slogan of the State Security Police is: "We care." And they mean it, and not in a good sense.

And so whether to blog is a life-changing decision for Egyptian youth. Of course, you are safe if you decide to write about trivial matters like your day at university or your cat having the hiccups. But once you decide to go political, the police are all ears. Literally. They will tap your phones, harass you with phone calls or by summoning you to their headquarters or stopping you on the street or intruding on your family, even by putting you under arrest.