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This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
On March 30, 2011, Bahraini blogger Mohamed El-Maskati, better known in the blogosphere as “Emoodz” was arrested. According to Reporters Without Borders, El-Maskati's arrest came after threats from a member of the royal family occurred on Twitter, where El-Maskati is known as @emoodz as well.
On Twitter, Bahraini residents and friends from around the world are calling for El-Maskati's release.
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (@BahrainRights) tweets a link to the Arabic version of Reporters Without Borders’ report, commenting:
Muhammed El-Maskati's public Facebook profile photo.
Afaf Al-Dawar (@Pearl14Feb) states:
Mohammed Almaskati @emoodz is a Bahraini blogger who has been arrested for expressing his opinion #FreeEmoodz #Bahrain #feb14
Also on Twitter, Muhammed Abdulla (@mabdulla88) writes:
I surely consider @emoodz as one of the best sources of news in Bahrain, Now he's in prison and we all want him free #FreeEmoodz
@Zanoob11 shares a video recorded by El-Maskati back in 2007:
In the ten-minute video, El-Maskati discusses blogging and Islam, switching back and forth between English and Arabic.
El-Maskati's sister, @Moooly85, tweeted on April 4, her brother's fifth day in prison:
Day 5: it's been 5 days since they arrested my brother ! #FreeEmoodz
Prominent blogger Mahmood Al-Yousif (@Mahmood), who was detained the previous week, has expressed his support as well:
I miss the free spirit of my friend @emoodz and look forward to shaking his hand again soon. I know he will be free. #FreeEmoodz
Reporters Without Borders has noted that Mohd Al-Khalifa, the member of the royal family accused of threatening El-Maskati on Twitter, tweeted threats to El-Maskati's supporters before deleting his account:
Khalifa meanwhile continues on Twitter to threaten anyone calling for Makati’s release: “#FreeEmoodz anyone that’s living in Bahrain and is supporting the terrorist emoodz, will have his IP address taken and will get arrested!”
Tweeted threat from Mohd Al-Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini royal family to El-Maskati's supporters before his account was deleted.
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
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