Security agents arrested al-Ghanim, 26, a Syrian blogger living in Saudi Arabia who wrote critically about social and political issues in both countries, according to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information. He was held incommunicado for 50 days before being transferred to Al-Hair Prison, according to a website advocating for his release. No formal charges had been disclosed by late year.
Before his arrest, al-Ghanim had signed a petition calling for the release of two activists arrested after announcing their intention to attend a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, according to the human rights network. In March 2010, a group of Syrian human rights organizations issued a statement calling for his release. The government has refused to disclose details about his legal status.