Offensichtlich ist die Sache mit Amina Arraf, die am Montag als bekennende lesbische Oppositionsbloggerin in Syrien gekidnappt wurde, nun eine ziemlich dubiose Angelegenheit – Zumindest das Gesicht, das sie für sich reklamierte, gehört jemand ganz anderem: Jenina Lecic, die in London lebt und sich nun in BBC Newsnight ziemlich besorgt und empört zeigt. Verständlicherweise:
Who is „A Gay Girl in Damascus“?
Nun, Fotos von einem facebook-Profil klauen ist auch nicht gerade die feine weibliche Art.
Der Journalist Andy Carvin, der als Erster an der Story von Amina zweifelte, sammelt weiter und recherchiert via twitter. Trotz allem ist er nicht sicher, ob alles erstunken und erlogen ist. Vor einer knappen Stunde schrieb er:
“ I still think there’s a possibility that she’s real, but that she covered her tracks well online to avoid arrest. „
Tatsache ist, daß Aminas Blog auch von ihrer (angeblichen?) Kusine seit 6. Juni nicht mehr aktualisiert wurde. – Es ist dort zwar auch von ihren Eltern die Rede, aber wirklich gesehen hat Amina offensichtlich niemand.
Klar ist es legitim, daß Amina ( falls es sie gibt, dann hoffe ich von Herzen, daß es ihr gut geht), ihre Spuren verwischt und sich bedeckt hält. Generell ist allerdings doch der Sache der syrischen Opposition nicht damit gedient, wenn nun niemand nix Genaues weiß und auch wir, die wir uns via facebook, twitter, aavaz etc. mit ihr solidarisiert haben und mails an den amerikanischen Präsidenten schickten, eigentlich nicht wissen, woran wir sind.
Vieles spricht nach wie vor dafür, daß es Amina gibt. Zu genau ist ihre Schilderung in ihrem Blog, als daß es irgendein Fake sein könnte.
Aber künftig wird man sich die syrische Opposition doch genauer anschauen.
Der Fall bleibt spannend. And I am not amused.
- Ich hänge hier zur Gesamtinformation noch mal die mail von aavaz an:
Thank you for sending a message to free Amina Arraf. The more people join this campaign, the louder our call and the more we can motivate the US and Turkey to act to save her life. Spread the word by forwarding the email below and by posting a message on Facebook and Twitter: http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_amina_arraf/97.php?cl_tta_sign=e1ede80946dfd3cb4db1be59fafbd46c Thanks so much, The Avaaz Team ----------- Here is the original email to forward to your friends: Dear Friends, On Monday, Amina Arraf, a popular young Syrian American blogger was abducted by three armed men as she walked to a protest meeting. Her high profile kidnapping is an ominous sign that the Syrian regime's gloves are now totally off. Amina is one of over ten thousand men and women who have been detained and tortured i n the last few months just for calling for democracy. Security forces have shot dead over one thousand peaceful demonstrators, and are laying siege to entire cities to crush the non-violent movement. But despite this brutality, a total ban on foreign reporting, and internet and phone blackouts, courageous Syrians, like Amina, refuse to be silenced. Every hour that passes she is in greater danger of unimaginable persecution, and experts say only the US and Turkey's diplomatic influence could get her out. Let's call for Amina's immediate release, an end to the violent crackdown, and for all political prisoners to be freed. Click to send an urgent message straight to the inboxes of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkey and the President and Secretary of State of the USA, and send this onto everyone: http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_amina_arraf/97.php?cl_tta_sign=e1ede80946dfd3cb4db1be59fafbd46c The regime has steadily escalated repression against protestors, with 80 civilians killed just this past Friday by security forces and dozens dying of gun shot injuries since then. The army has repeatedly fired on unarmed demonstrators in Dera'a, Hama and Homs and horrific tales of sexual torture of children, men and women, fingernail extraction and psychological torment are rampant. Given that homosexuality is illegal in Syria and Amina's forceful and frank platform as a gay blogger, her treatment by the regime could be terrifying, and her life could be in danger. So far, the Syrian regime has proven deaf to international pressure, including European Union and US sanctions. But, cracks are appearing in the regime and as we saw in the case of Iman al-Obeidy in Li bya and Sakineh Ashtiani in Iran, Turkey can play a crucial role, and massive global public pressure can save the life of an individual, even in times of chaos and violence. Amina is a symbol for the extraordinarily brave Syrians struggling for basic rights. She has written extensively in her blog about her family's experiences during the repression, about being a gay woman in Syria, and she has given voice to many demonstrators' criticism of the regime. Recently she had been forced into hiding. Two hours before her detention she posted a poem that ended: Soaring and flying Freedom is coming Here am I wanting To know it one day Later that day Amina's cousin posted on the blog, "I have been on the telephone with both her parents and all that we can say right now is that she is missing. Her father is desperately trying to find out where she is and who has taken her." Let's send an avalanche of messages now to the USA and Turkey to help stop Amin a's torment and secure the freedom that she saw soaring and flying: http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_amina_arraf/97.php?cl_tta_sign=e1ede80946dfd3cb4db1be59fafbd46c Together, the Avaaz community is assisting Syrian citizen journalists to break the blackout and get key footage out across the world, and are directly supporting the efforts of peaceful, pro-democracy protesters. Let's secure Amina's freedom now and continue to stand with Syrians struggling for a free, inclusive future. With hope and determination, Alice, Stephanie, Mohammad, Rewan, Ricken, Benjamin and the whole Avaaz team SOURCES 'Gay Girl in Damascus' blogger detained, Washington Post: http://avaaz.org/wp_amina_arraf Fears grow for missing Syrian 'Gay Girl' blogger, CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/06/07/syria.blogger.missing/ Gay Girl in Damascus blogger joins ranks of Syria's detained, The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/07/damascus-blogger-syria-detained Amina's blog: http://www.damascusgaygirl.blogspot.com/
Vorwärts und nicht vergessen! 
Daß das alles kein Amusement ist; klar. Daß Aufklärung schon immer für Aufklärer kein Amusement war; klar. Daß Versteckspielen kein Spiel ist, für Aufklärer; klar. Daß die Wahrheit aufklärerisch sein muß; denn: Spielen ist aufm Platz. Sonst spiele ich nicht; sonst ist Aufklärung. Klar.
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Und ich das update von avaaz von heute mittag: In Folge der Konfusion hat die NGO, die immer sehr zuverlässig ist und mittlerweile weltweit über sehr gute Netze ganz unten wie ganz oben verfügt, ihre Kampagne unterbrochen, bis Klarheit hergestellt ist – was angesichts der Abschottung in Syrien keine extra-schnelle Sache sein dürfte.
Ich selber glaube an die Authentizität der Geschichte(n) und werde die Kampagnen dann auch unterstützen.
Abgesehen davon, dass unsere Verwirrung deutlich geringer sein dürfte als die Repression in den jeweiligen Ländern, sollte man gerade in diesen so lange ersehnten revolutionären Zeiten (auch wenn es woanders stattfindet) wohl lieber einmal zuviel solidarisch sein als einmal zu wenig. Dazu also ein Lob an den sofortigen Einsatz Deines Blogs.
Die Aufstände in Nahost sind halt jung (und das macht sie so hoffnungsvoll, auch wenn sogar ein Regimesturz sich dann „nur“ als der erste Schritt erweist) – im Iran waren mehrere sehr blutige Aufstände nötig, bis die jungen Leute herausgefunden hatten, wie sie sich unauslöschlich sichtbar machen konnten.
Wer etwas französisch kann, findet hier ein erhellendes Interview (Video):
Syrie : „un tsunami des jeunes“
http://www.tv5.org/cms/chaine-francophone/info/Les-dossiers-de-la-redaction/Syrie-2011/p-16775-Syrie-un-tsunami-des-jeunes-.htm
Noch ein Tipp vor avaaz: Der marokkanische Scgriftsteller Tahar Ben Jelloun hat sowohl einen Roman wie ein Essay veröffentlicht, letzteres für wenige Euro auch auf deutsch (Der arabische Frühling – Vom Wiedererlangen der Würde in der arabischen Welt). Hier habe ich ein kleines Interview mit ihm (und die amazon-Werbelinks 😉 )…..
http://afri-russ-archiv.blog.de/2011/06/05/buecher-roman-und-essay-arabischer-fruehling-eine-einstuerzende-berliner-mauer-interview-tahar-ben-jelloun-le-printemps-arabe-un-mur-de-berlin-qu-11268621/
by Avaaz:
Syria: Free Amina
http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_amina_arraf/
Update: 9 June 2011
In the last 24 hours controversy has arisen about Amina’s identity. Our attempts to verify her through trusted networks in Syria, the US State Department and with several journalists who had contact with her before the reported arrest have proved fruitless. Foreign Journalists are unable to verify the story because the Syrian regime has closed off the country to them. While some activists continue to insist that Amina exists and was abducted, Avaaz is suspending this campaign until the confusion is cleared up.
It is still possible that „Amina“ is simply using a pseudonym — and, given the relentless oppression of Syrian citizens, this is a common way to protect identities amongst activists and journalists. What we do know is that right now at least 11,000 Syrians are currently being detained; 900 have been „disappeared“ and more than 1300 peaceful protesters of besieged cities have been killed by security forces. Avaaz will continue to support their peaceful struggle for a democratic nation that respects the rights of all citizens.
Posted: 8 June 2011
On Monday, Amina Arraf, a popular young Syrian American blogger was abducted by three armed men in Damascus. Her high profile kidnapping is an ominous sign that the Syrian regime’s gloves are now totally off.
Amina is one of over ten thousand men and women who have been detained and tortured in the last few months just for calling for democracy. Security forces have shot dead over one thousand peaceful demonstrators, and are laying siege to entire cities to crush the movement. But despite this brutality, a total ban on foreign reporting, and internet blackouts, courageous Syrians, like Amina, refuse to be silenced.
Every hour that passes she is in greater danger of unimaginable persecution, and experts say only the US and Turkey’s diplomatic influence could get her out. Let’s call for Amina’s immediate release, an end to the violent crackdown, and for all political prisoners to be freed. Send an urgent message straight to the inboxes of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkey and the President and Secretary of State of the USA — then share this with everyone.
The regime has steadily escalated repression against protestors, with 80 civilians killed just this past Friday by security forces and dozens dying of gun shot injuries since then. The army has repeatedly fired on unarmed demonstrators in Dera’a, Hama and Homs and horrific tales of sexual torture of children, men and women, fingernail extraction and psychological torment are rampant. Given that homosexuality is illegal in Syria and Amina’s forceful and frank platform as a gay blogger, her treatment by the regime could be terrifying, and her life could be in danger.
So far, the Syrian regime has proven deaf to international pressure, including European Union and US sanctions. But, cracks are appearing in the regime and as we saw in the case of Iman al-Obeidy in Libya and Sakineh Ashtiani in Iran, Turkey can play a crucial role, and massive global public pressure can save the life of an individual, even in times of chaos and violence.
Amina is a symbol for the extraordinarily brave Syrians struggling for basic rights. She has written extensively in her blog about her family’s experiences during the repression, about being a gay woman in Syria, and she has given voice to many demonstrators‘ criticism of the regime. Recently she had been forced into hiding. Two hours before her detention she posted a poem that ended:
Soaring and flying
Freedom is coming
Here am I wanting
To know it one day
Later that day Amina’s cousin posted on the blog, „I have been on the telephone with both her parents and all that we can say right now is that she is missing. Her father is desperately trying to find out where she is and who has taken her.“ Let’s send an avalanche of messages now to the USA and Turkey to help stop Amina’s torment and secure the freedom that she saw soaring and flying.
Together, the Avaaz community is assisting Syrian citizen journalists to break the blackout and get key footage out across the world, and are directly supporting the efforts of peaceful, pro-democracy protesters. Let’s secure Amina’s freedom now and continue to stand with Syrians struggling for a free, inclusive future.
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