http://www.apc.org/en/news/%252F15%2C30 News listing en http://www.apc.org/en/news/freedom/africa/statement-apc-condemns-imprisonment-pro-democracy- <div class="abstract"><span class="locality">JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA</span> (APCNews) - <p><span class="caps">APC</span> condemns the unjust detention of free speech bloggers and journalists in Egypt. Alaa Seif Al-Islam, a seasoned blogger and <span class="caps">APC</span> colleague, is one of four Egyptian online diarists being held in detention for criticising the current regime since May 7. In addition, <span class="caps">APC</span> has heard disturbing reports about violent actions taken by <a class="glossary-term" href="/en/glossary/term/354"><acronym title="state: The set of official political institutions whose specific concern is with the social and political organisation and management, in the name of the common interest, within a determined territory. A state of sufficient size and complexity will have different layers or levels of government: local, regional and national. Style information: Clearly distinguish between &quot;state&quot; and &quot;government&quot; as these terms are often used interchangeably, but do not mean the same thing (see also the entry for &quot;government&quot; in this glossary). As a general rule, &quot;state&quot; should not be capitalised. Source: Governance for sustainable human development: A UNDP policy document (Glossary of key terms) and Wikipedia">state</acronym></a> <a class="glossary-term" href="/en/glossary/term/314"><acronym title="security and privacy: Online security and privacy includes issues such as protecting data, protecting identity (the right to communicate free of the threat of surveillance and interception) and protecting against computer viruses. As media workers and human rights organisations around the world make increasing use of online technologies, there is a corresponding increase in the need for skills, knowledge, and tools to ensure that the use of technology is both effective and secure. This need is especially acute in the case of groups operating under repressive political conditions or in situations of conflict, where the challenge is to gather, protect and disseminate information effectively in a way which minimises risk to activists. The APC Internet Rights Charter states that people communicating on the internet must have the right to use tools which encode messages to ensure secure, private and anonymous communication. Style information: N/a Source: &quot;African journalists trained in how to communicate securely online&quot; (APCNews and Toni Eliasz, 30 September 2004), Take Back the Tech! and APC Internet Rights Charter">security</acronym></a> against several of the bloggers who were released from custody last week, only to be subsequently re-arrested. Authorities prevented human rights lawyers from visiting the bloggers who had been beaten and tortured on Thursday May 25.</p> </div> Freedom of expression Africa Fri, 02 Jun 2006 01:00:00 -0300 webmaster 1226 at http://www.apc.org