Gay Girl in Damascus: Tom MacMaster defends blog hoax

bismi-lLahi-rRahmani-rRahiem
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

=== News Update ===

An online campaign was launched to secure “Amina’s” release after the blog told of her arrest

The student behind a hoax blog which claimed to be written by a gay woman in Syria has defended his actions.

Tom MacMaster, a US student at the University of Edinburgh, said the blog had been a fiction – but that the facts it contained were true.

The 40-year-old married man’s blog, A Gay Girl in Damascus, described life in the Syrian city amid the current political unrest.

It gained a worldwide readership and was closely followed by news reporters.

The blog, dating back to February this year, claimed to document the life of 25-year-old Amina Abdallah Arraf al-Omari, a half-Syrian, half-American lesbian living in Damascus.

Entries covered her social life and relationships, but “Amina” also criticised President Bashar al-Assad and spoke about her role in the growing anti-government protests.

Syrian blog turns out to be hoax

bismi-lLahi-rRahmani-rRahiem
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

=== News Update ===

The hoaxer behind a fake blog that claimed to be written by a lesbian Syrian-American living in Damascus, and which caught worldwide attention, has defended the stunt.

A writer giving his name as Tom MacMaster, a US student studying at Edinburgh University, admitted the narrative was fictional but insisted it “created an important voice for issues I feel strongly about.”

So apparently Tom was raised to believe that simply feeling strongly about something is a license to lie and deceive, is that it?

http://whatreallyhappened.com/

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BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW

US man admits he is ‘Syrian gay girl’ blogger : AlJazeeraEnglish

bismi-lLahi-rRahmani-rRahiem
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

=== News Update ===

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEG3lRhBpzs

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-muslim voice-
______________________________________
BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW

U.S. Charged With War Crimes

bismi-lLahi-rRahmani-rRahiem
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

=== News Update ===

U.S. Charged With War Crimes

The Evidence File

Court case against General Franks in Brussels

WARNING: 

The video and pictures in this report contain images and descriptions,  depicting the reality and horror of the U.S. – UK invasion of Iraq 

WARNING: 

Court case against General Franks in Brussels  [An overview of the case]

THE COMPLAINT
Texte complet de la plainte contre Franks
Complete text in English: MS Word document

War Criminal: Rape victim refuses to pay rapist

bismi-lLahi-rRahmani-rRahiem
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

=== News Update ===

Iraqis: We won’t repay U.S.

Rep. Rohrabacher suggested that Iraq could repay the U.S. after it becomes a rich country. | AP Photo Close

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 6/12/11 1:35 PM EDT

BAGHDAD — The suggestion by a U.S. congressman that Iraq repay the United States for the money it has spent in the country has stirred anger, with an Iraqi lawmaker ridiculing the idea as “stupid” and others saying Iraqis should be compensated for the hardships they’ve endured.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican from California, suggested during a trip to Baghdad with fellow lawmakers Friday that once Iraq becomes a rich and prosperous country, it could repay the United States.