Thanks, Lane. The WMF published numerous Diff posts on Bassel. I believe the first one was in October 2015, less than a week after Bassel was killed:
#FREEBASSEL: Free culture advocate who built 3D renderings of Palmyra missing in Syria https://diff.wikimedia.org/2015/10/08/bassel-missing-syria/ As for media coverage, in January 2016 Jimmy Wales wrote an article about Bassel for CNN: Wikipedia founder: Information can beat oppression https://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/20/opinions/wales-wikipedia-information-beats-oppression/index.html In March 2016, Jimmy Wales and Orit Kopel published an article on Bassel in The Guardian, again suggesting a hashtag: "The world needs to ask: #whereisBassel?" https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2016/mar/16/jimmy-wales-the-world-needs-to-ask-whereisbassel The Foundation's silence <https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=osama+saudi+site%3Adiff.wikimedia.org&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8> on Osama and Ziyad is in marked contrast to that. Andreas On Sun, Oct 8, 2023 at 3:04 PM Lane Rasberry <[email protected]> wrote: > "Have there been any recent cases where community voices were mobilized to > contribute to national or international campaigns for someone's release?" > > We organized Wikipedia editing events in 2011-12 for Aaron Swartz. Events > were not so documented back then, but there were wiki meetups in the United > States before and after his death. > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Swartz > > In 2016-17 we did events for Bassell, not knowing that he had already > passed. Here is some of what I can find but the events were organized in > anticipation of his release. > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Bassel_Khartabil > https://wikimania2017.wikimedia.org/wiki/Editathon_for_Bassel > https://www.wired.com/story/free-bassel-essay/ > > For both of these, there was a lot of online and in-person Wikimedia > activism in response to the legal accusations against them. I do not know > if we ever had storytelling or journalism documenting that though. > > > > On Thu, Oct 5, 2023 at 4:46 PM Samuel Klein <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Have there been any recent cases where community voices were mobilized to >> contribute to national or international campaigns for someone's release? >> >> It sounds like a community group, working to support others, might be an >> outlet for interest in advocating for those in jail, and maintaining up to >> date information on their condition and needs, ways to get letters to them, >> &c. They could get advice from the WMF team, and work with and through >> Amnesty (et al). The reasons that a specific org might not want to advocate >> openly for a victim may not apply to individuals, who have their own >> leverage and can advocate on behalf of humanity. >> >> SJ >> >> >> 🌍🌏🌎🌑 >> >> On Thu, Oct 5, 2023, 2:58 PM Maggie Dennis <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Hello, all. >>> >>> I’m Maggie Dennis. I’m the VP who oversees our human rights team in its >>> work. Reiterating what the team previously said about not being able to >>> discuss particular situations, I can disclose a little more general points >>> about our approach as you pose, LW, and, I hope, address some of your >>> concerns, Lodewijk. >>> >>> It’s devastating when community members face targeting for their >>> dedication to supporting free knowledge. This matters a lot to me, to my >>> team, and to all the Foundation. I know it matters to you as well. >>> >>> The Wikimedia Foundation does resource this important work. We have >>> partners in this field with whom we collaborate closely. Our human rights >>> team possesses extensive experience in addressing such issues and also >>> maintains strong connections with NGOs specializing in these areas. We >>> regularly engage with these organizations on both general matters and >>> specific cases. >>> >>> Every situation in which a community member is targeted is unique, and >>> we recognize the need for specialized responses and support. Volunteer >>> well-being is our priority, and we are committed to providing the right >>> assistance for each case. While we believe in the importance of public >>> discourse and transparency, safety always takes precedence. In some >>> instances, the Foundation has found it appropriate to speak publicly to >>> address these challenges and have done so. In others, we may be advised to >>> handle matters differently. >>> >>> In terms of some Wikimedians who might have concerns whether our >>> strategy is the right one, I fully respect that there must be. Because each >>> case is different and frequently these situations are highly complex, we >>> know that even different expert organizations might rank the risk and the >>> right response of a specific situation differently. We have sometimes >>> sought multiple opinions on a case. At the end of the day, we collaborate >>> closely with relevant groups on our response to ensure the safety and >>> well-being of individuals affected and the broader community members who >>> could be impacted. We do the best we can to uphold the principles of free >>> knowledge while prioritizing safety for everyone. >>> >>> While I can’t discuss specific cases, I am always happy to talk about >>> general matters of policy and approach in my quarterly community >>> conversations. We will also answer questions to the extent that we believe >>> we safely can that are posed about the team’s work to >>> [email protected]. Depending on the case,the human rights >>> team may provide ways to help or avenues to connect with organizations who >>> are supporting. They may also be able to advise when silence is regarded as >>> the best response. (There are some risks to being too open about who we >>> work with and how we work that we need to consider every time.) >>> >>> People can read more generally about the human rights team >>> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Team> here. >>> >>> While this is not my area of focus in my role at the Foundation, I also >>> want to generally call out that the Foundation also conducts human rights >>> advocacy routinely in regards to legislation. Our Global Advocacy >>> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Global_Advocacy> team not only meets >>> with legislators around the world to fight for the rights that keep free >>> knowledge free, but also considers and guides our work by providing >>> proactive human rights assessments and policy development, such as the Human >>> Rights Policy >>> <https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Policy:Human_Rights_Policy>. >>> >>> Best regards, >>> >>> Maggie >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Oct 5, 2023 at 3:14 AM Lauren Worden <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Dear WMF Human Rights Team: >>>> >>>> I would like some clarification on your statement below. In >>>> particular, does your stated approach allow you to follow the best >>>> practices described at >>>> https://freedomhouse.org/2023/summit-for-democracy-political-prisoners >>>> to, e.g., "meet regularly with family members of political prisoners, >>>> advocacy groups, and media outlets and journalists, in public and in >>>> private, in their efforts to secure an individual’s release"? >>>> >>>> The literature review at >>>> https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/20.500.12413/17277 states: >>>> "The theoretical and empirical literature attributes several potential >>>> roles to civil society in [security sector and justice reform]. These >>>> include making security and justice institutions accountable, >>>> mobilising a range of social groups for reform, publicising abuses and >>>> advocating for reform, offering technical expertise, and improving >>>> security-citizen relations." >>>> >>>> If the Foundation staff has prohibited itself from engaging with the >>>> public on freeing jailed wikipedians, orchestrating letter writing >>>> campaigns, or coordinating with other NGOs and government agencies, >>>> such as those Andreas has described as having no record of the >>>> imprisoned Arabic Wikipedia administrators, then I would hope that the >>>> CEO or Trustees would step in immediately to rectify any internal >>>> policies such that best practices can be upheld. >>>> >>>> -LW >>>> >>>> >>>> On Tue, Oct 3, 2023 at 3:51 PM WMF Human Rights >>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> > >>>> > In the interest of safeguarding confidential information and ensuring >>>> the safety of our community members, the Foundation will not publicly >>>> disclose details regarding human rights cases. The Human Rights Team >>>> recently updated its meta page to clarify this approach. Our primary >>>> concern is to uphold the safety and privacy of everyone involved. At the >>>> same time, our inability to discuss these matters should not be read as >>>> inaction. We care deeply about volunteer safety and our role, more >>>> generally, involves different levels of internal support, wider advocacy >>>> and partnerships with others depending on the circumstances of an event. >>>> > >>>> > On Tue, Oct 3, 2023 at 6:06 AM Andreas Kolbe <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >> >>>> >> Let's put it a different way then: >>>> >> >>>> >> Is anyone at the WMF doing anything in support of the two jailed >>>> Saudi Wikimedians, be it liaising with international or regional human >>>> rights organisations, the US State Department, briefing journalists so the >>>> wider public is aware of the situation, or anything else to make sure Osama >>>> and Ziyad aren't forgotten about as they start (by my calculation) their >>>> fourth year in jail? >>>> >> >>>> >> I am asking because the press reports published at the start of this >>>> year do not seem to have led to any significant coverage of the two >>>> Wikimedians' plight on the websites of major human rights organisations. >>>> (If I have missed any, please let me know.) >>>> >> >>>> >> For example, I found nothing at all on the website of Reporters >>>> without Borders. Similarly, the most recent Amnesty International report on >>>> the "crackdown on online expression" in Saudi Arabia includes several >>>> mentions of Twitter users but none of Wikipedians: >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/02/saudi-arabia-alarming-crackdown-on-online-expression/ >>>> >> >>>> >> Amnesty's report specifically mentions that a Twitter user was >>>> sentenced for supporting women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul but >>>> fails to mention that one of the jailed Wikimedians uploaded Loujain >>>> al-Hathloul's Commons picture, which is used in her Wikipedia articles. >>>> >> >>>> >> I didn't find anything about Osama and Ziyad or, more generally, >>>> Wikimedians in Saudi Arabia on the website of the EFF. >>>> >> >>>> >> There is a mention of Osama and Ziyad and the fact that they were >>>> Wikipedians on the PEN website: >>>> >> >>>> >> https://pen.org/report/freedom-to-write-index-2022/ >>>> >> >>>> >> The U.S. State Department's 2022 country report on Saudi Arabia, >>>> published in March 2023, includes a mention of Osama's 32-year prison >>>> sentence, but doesn't make clear that he was jailed for being a Wikipedian, >>>> and Ziyad is not mentioned: >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/saudi-arabia/ >>>> >> >>>> >> Will this be remedied in the U.S. State Department's 2023 country >>>> report? I think each country report covers the period up to October of the >>>> preceding year, so this month will be the last chance to make sure the 2023 >>>> report published next spring will include information on Osama and Ziyad's >>>> prison sentences and their Wikipedia activity. >>>> >> >>>> >> Andreas >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> On Mon, Sep 25, 2023 at 11:09 PM The Cunctator <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>> >>>> >>> Frankly, that's implausible. >>>> >>> >>>> >>> On Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 3:37 PM DerHexer via Wikimedia-l < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I do think that posting any kind of response to these questions on >>>> a public mailing list would do more harm than good. Thank you. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Best, >>>> >>>> DerHexer >>>> >>>> Wikimedia Steward >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Am Montag, 25. September 2023 um 21:20:21 MESZ hat Andreas Kolbe < >>>> [email protected]> Folgendes geschrieben: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Dear all, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> As there was a recent press mention of Osama and Ziyad[1] (see "In >>>> the Media" in the current Signpost issue) – does the WMF's Human Rights >>>> Team (cc'ed) have any update on their situation? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Has anyone else heard any news? If I recall correctly, Osama had >>>> married not long before being jailed in 2020 – has anyone been in touch >>>> with his wife? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Is there anything the community can do? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Andreas >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> [1] >>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_imprisoned_for_editing_Wikipedia >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> >>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>> guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines >>>> and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>> >>>> Public archives at >>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/CSBF3UGYR7BDU5XPYZFYQAABPXXY5PDG/ >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>> [email protected] >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> >>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>> guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines >>>> and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>> >>>> Public archives at >>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/XMEMSGXX7XH3R7MSYZFGKR6PMRCWDDKB/ >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>> [email protected] >>>> >>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>>> >>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>> guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines >>>> and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>> >>> Public archives at >>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/YKDNQDXMBNSD7OX6YKLN4RLJAYWC5WGO/ >>>> >>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>> [email protected] >>>> > >>>> > _______________________________________________ >>>> > Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>> guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines >>>> and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>> > Public archives at >>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/FIAFNJ7XAKLXEAKU4MSUR7MTTWSY3IGE/ >>>> > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>> guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines >>>> and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>> Public archives at >>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/KM37DQGP6QN4QCAKTJWESDWUN3FV6OAJ/ >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Maggie Dennis >>> She/her/hers >>> Vice President, Community Resilience & Sustainability >>> Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], guidelines >>> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>> Public archives at >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/5AHBLOQT4YAFKCOQ5Y26EBDNCKBCLV5W/ >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], guidelines >> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> Public archives at >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/PP624R2OCYBBOSRWWZR4GHDYHW7DZJ7S/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > > > > -- > Lane Rasberry > user:bluerasberry > 🟦🌀💙🌀🟦 > > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], guidelines > at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l > Public archives at > https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/TLOJYQ5CD6K7BOL3YIHM64MCEEZCPAIF/ > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
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