Tunisian bloggers don't take freedom, or Facebook, for granted

MBA Legal Intern Andie Schwartz reports: Bloggers and Facebook users in Tunisia have "banded together to push for a national day to defend the freedom of expression" and are designating November 4th as their "Day of Freedom," according to Magharebia.com:

The choice of November 4th is not random; bloggers decided to gather in solidarity with journalist Zied El Heni, who filed a lawsuit against the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI) accusing it of blocking Facebook in Tunisia. The courts will review the case on November 4th.

Tunisia's policy of banning certain blogs and interrupting Facebook access, according to (banned) blogger Sofiene Chourabi, "has caused more harm to Tunisia's reputation and its elites, and has made us the joke in many other countries, and has not benefited our country in any way."

The MBA isn't taking its services international (at least not that international) quite yet, but restrictions on blogging and other forms of expression are popping up all over the world. Blogger solidarity, both within and across borders, is one way to increase the chances that every blogger has a chance to be read.