An American graduate journalism student was able to gain his release from an Egyptian prison last week by having the foresight to type the word "arrested" on Twitter from his mobile phone as he was photographing a demonstration in the city of Mahalla El-Kobra.
An enterprising graduate journalist has used Twitter to gain his freedom from an Egyptian jail. Photo: Twitter logo
Police arrested James Karl Buck, a University of California graduate and former Oakland Tribune intern, as he took images of the protest however his one word message was picked up by his Twitter followers in Egypt and America who contacted the university and the US embassy in the country.
Buck was able to walk a free man from jail with an Egyptian attorney hired by the university one day after his arrest.
"It was a combination of things. My Egyptian friends told me to play the 'American (card)' and try to force my way out," Buck said to Mercury News.
Buck's "followers" -- correspondents on the popular social networking site -- also contacted media organisations including the Associated Press and The International Herald Tribune who added pressure on the Egyptian administration for the young journalist's release.
Buck was released Friday and returned home Sunday.
Upon his return, Buck said he was concerned about the welfare of his friend and translator Mohammed Salah Ahmed Maree, who was arrested with him but was still being held by Egyptian authorities.
"I believe he's totally innocent," Buck said who added that Maree lacked the influence of the university and the US Embassy to gain his release.
"Egypt has a huge population of prisoners because of these security crackdowns and any information will also help their families and lawyers, who are trying to find them," said Hossam El-Hamalawy, a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley. He added that publicity over the case will assist Maree's family obtain further information.
A petition for the translator's release has been started here.
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SteveApr 18th, 2008 - 07:46:48
Cool coverage Rich, I think I will have to stop making fun of Twitter.
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SteveApr 18th, 2008 - 07:46:48
Cool coverage Rich, I think I will have to stop making fun of Twitter.
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