Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Syrian Blogger Sentenced to Three Years in Jail

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the hope-he-gets-net-access dept.

blind biker writes "The AP reports (via the Herald Tribune) of Tarek Bayassi, a 24-year old Syrian blogger sentenced to three years in jail for 'undermining the prestige of the state and weakening national morale.' The original sentence was six years but it was commuted on appeal. Apparently, this isn't an isolated case in Syria."

8 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. Prestige of the State? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    If undermining the prestige of the state were punishable, Bush would have been in prison years ago...

    1. Re:Prestige of the State? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      What!? I didn't do nothing!

    2. Re:Prestige of the State? by electrictroy · · Score: 2, Funny

      In my opinion, anyone who doesn't speak the original tongue (example: Beoqulf) is not speaking true English. I'd even be willing to accept the language of circa 1400 (example: Chaucer), but no one seems to want to cooperate and use the proper grammar. I guess we need a "Department of the Language" similar to how the French Despotic government has, to decide what is acceptable and what is not allowed, and imprison anyone who dares use a non-approved word.

      Alas noone listens to me. They just keep evolving the language with new "inkhorn" words.

      Terrible. /end sarcasm

      --
      The government is not your daddy. Its purpose is not to raid middle-class neighbors' wallets and give it to you.
    3. Re:Prestige of the State? by superslacker87 · · Score: 3, Funny

      You can fight it all you want but the language is going to evolve whether you like it or not.

      Proof positive: This same reply fifty years from now, when lolspeak has become the commonplace language of our time:

      lolz, erreygrdles iz gud choiss, stoopid n00b. Frum da dicshunary:

      i can has cut?

      u grammer nazis r goin to jus has 2 accept teh fact dat teh werd iz legitimate part ov teh language nao. u can fight it all u wants but teh language iz goin 2 evolve whethr u liek it or not.WHETHR U LIEK IT OR NOT.

      --
      I run Ubuntu skinned to look like a Mac on a PC. Go figure.
    4. Re:Prestige of the State? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      You grammar Nazis are going to just have to accept the fact that the word is a legitimate part of the language now. You can fight it all you want but the language is going to evolve whether you like it or not.
      That simply ain't true, my nigga.
  2. Re:we do it differently here? by VeNoM0619 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I would hate to be the grammar nazi who has to clean up that post...

    --
    Disclaimer: I am not god.
    We may not be created equal
    But we can be treated equal.
  3. prestige? by Lord+Ender · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was not aware that Syria had prestige.

    --
    A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
  4. Re:somebody should explain the court by ChromeAeonium · · Score: 2, Funny

    by removing their armed forced from the region and stop supporting Israel. This is what you sound like here. If you can't see the similarities, watch the movie.

    Sheila: Times have changed
    Our kids are getting worse
    They won't obey their parents
    They just want to fart and curse!
    Sharon: Should we blame the government?
    Liane: Or blame society?
    Dads: Or should we blame the images on TV?
    Sheila: No, blame Israel!
    Everyone: Blame Israel!
    Sheila: With all their beady little eyes
    And flapping heads so full of lies
    Everyone: Blame Israel! Blame Israel!
    Sheila: We need to form a full assault
    Everyone: It's Israel's fault!
    Sheila: Well, blame Israel!
    Everyone: Blame Israel!
    Sheila: It seems that everything's gone wrong
    Since Israel came along!
    Everyone: Blame Israel! Blame Israel!
    Mapkinase: They're not even a real country anyway!
    Everyone: We must blame them and cause a fuss
    Before somebody thinks of blaming us!!!!