Google Executive Rejoins Egypt Protests Following Release

A Google executive, and mystery man behind the powerful “We're All Khaled Said” Facebook page — one of the key catalysts that sparked the Egypt protests — was released by authorities today after going missing 10 days ago.

Wael Ghoneim, Google’s head of marketing for Middle East and North Africa, disappeared the evening of Thursday Jan. 27, the night before the “day of rage” mass protests in Egypt.

Ghoneim was known to be a political activist, but his connection to the Facebook page was not known—until he was picked up on Jan. 27. Before that, the person behind the page was on Egyptian security’s most wanted list.

For anti-government protesters, the “We're All Khaled Said” Facebook page represents their rage against the police brutality that has been increasing in Egypt over the last few years. Khaled Said was a 28-year-old businessman who was beaten to death while in police custody last June. Shortly afterward, the page went up. His then name became a rallying cry for the mostly young Egyptians who first took to the streets on Jan. 25 and have vowed to stay until President Hosni Mubarak leaves.

The “day of rage” was chosen to coincide with Egyptian Police Day.

Upon his release, Ghoneim rejoined the protesters now in their 14th day in Tahrir Square in Cairo.

According to Al Arabiya, before his arrest Ghoneim appeared to be circumventing the government shutdown of the Internet, as a Twitter account in his name posted a tweet saying, "Very worried as it seems that government is planning a war crime tomorrow against people. We are all ready to die."

On Jan. 31, Google launched a special speak-to-tweet service to help Egyptians without Internet communicate with each other. Egyptians could use it to send Twitter messages by leaving a voicemail at one of three international phone numbers.

The curfew in Cairo, Alexandria, and Suez was eased somewhat on Monday and will now begin one hour later than the day prior. The new curfew starts at 8 p.m. and runs through to 6 a.m. While protesters have consistently ignored the curfew, it has been observed by many shops and transportation providers.

With tensions easing on the square, stand-up comedians kept protesters entertained on the main stage on Monday. One protester in the crowd joined in the fun holding up a sign telling Mubarak to "Go away, my hand is starting to hurt."

Protest organizers are calling for large-scale protests again on Tuesday and Thursday.

With reporting by Laila Hassan in Cairo.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/50757/