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DigiActive News: in The New York Times’ blog

We at DigiActive like to think of ourselves as pretty humble, but we were so thrilled when we saw this that we just had to share it:

DigiActive received a link, a quote, and an image in the New York Times‘ blog, The Lede. (According to them, we’re a “rights group”.) Click the image to read their full post on Fouad.

DigiActive News: Fouad Mourtada is Free!

It is with great joy that we break this story. This is a huge victory for digital activism. Thank you to all the people who supported the campaign, both online and offline!

CASABLANCA, March 18 - Fouad Mourtada was released from Oukacha Prison at approximately 8:00pm local time today, having received a royal pardon.

Mr. Mourtada, a 26-year old IT engineer, was taken into custody on February 5th, 2008, and was questioned regarding a fake Facebook profile of King Mohammed VI’s younger brother, Prince Moulay Rachid, which he had created on January 15. During his interrogation, Mr. Mourtada reports that he was beaten, spat on and insulted.

On February 22, Mr. Mourtada was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of $1350 for creating the fake profile. The official charge was identity fraud of an electronic document.

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Campaign: Help Fouad Mourtada

Description of Campaign: On February 5, Moroccan Fouad Mourtada was taken into custody for posting a joke profile of Prince Rachid (the King’s brother). Two weeks later, he was sentenced to three years in prison and fined over $1000 on a false charge of document identity fraud. The goal of this campaign is to reverse this sentence, which is horribly out of proportion to the offense committed.

Digital Activism Tools: YouTube, web site, G-Chat, Skype, Facebook, digital video, digital photography

How These Tools Are Being Used: First there was the official web site, www.HelpFouad.com with an e-petition asking for Fouad’s release. Members of the campaign both inside and outside Morocco communicated using G-Chat and Skype. Then there was the Facebook group, Help Fouad Mourtada. Through the Facebook group and offline social networks, rallies were organized this past Saturday at Moroccan embassies and consulates in 8 cities around the world (Rabat, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Washington DC, Montreal, Madrid, and London). Digital video and photographs were collected from these rallies made into a video to promote the cause (see below).

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Action Alert: Take a Photo for Fouad

What? Take a photo of yourself and your friends showing support for Fouad Mourtada, who was sentence to 3 years in prison for posting a joke profile of the Moroccan King’s brother on Facebook.

When? Now!

Where? Send the picture to helpfouad AT gmail.com, the official e-mail address of his campaign

How? Create a sign with a statement in support of Fouad and then take a picture of yourself, a friend, or co-workers, holding the sign.  Then send the picture to the e-mail address above.

Why? to show that many many people support Fouad.

Who is organizing the action? The Committee to Help Fouad

Action Alert: Sign the Petition to Free Fouad Mourtada

What? e-petition protesting the 3 year prison sentence of Fouad Mourtada, who posted a joke profile of the Moroccan King’s brother on Facebook.

When? Now!

Where? on the Help Fouad web site at http://helpfouad.com/7437/index.html

How? go to the above URL and sign the e-petition
Why? to show the international opposition to this injustice

Who is organizing the action? The Committee to Help Fouad