Syrian ‘Gay Girl’ blogger arrested? Or is she another ‘LonelyGirl?’
A well-known blog called “A Gay Girl in Damascus” reports that its author, Amina Abdallah Araf al Omari, has been arrested (NY Daily News):
Earlier today, at approximately 6:00 pm Damascus time, Amina was walking in the area of the Abbasid bus station, near Fares al Khouri Street. She had gone to meet a person involved with the Local Coordinating Committee and was accompanied by a friend…. Amina had, apparently, identified the person she was to meet. However, while her companion was still close by, Amina was seized by three men in their early 20’s. According to the witness (who does not want her identity known), the men were armed. Amina hit one of them and told the friend to go find her father.”
A Facebook page has been created called “Free Amina Abdalla | Syrian Blogger,” and it has over 13,000 Likes since its first post appeared on Monday.
However, reports are emerging that the Virginia-born, “queer” Syrian activist may not be what she claimed. The Washington Post details a trail of questions about Amina’s identity. The article repeats claims that she uses an IP address based in Scotland, that her photo is similar to that of one Jelena Lecic, and that no identifiable individual close to Amina A. has said they’d ever met her in person. (Washington Post)
A number of blogs and news outlets are openly considering that Amina Abdallah Araf al Omari may be the outlet of a creative writer, and that she was “kidnapped” just as questions about her legitimacy are becoming public. (The Daily Dish)
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