Amir-Ebrahimi 337ere are other cases in which the actions of activist bloggers have Th
had important impacts on events in the real world. Perhaps the most
important was the protest organized against the sentencing of women
condemned to death by Islamic law, often because they have killed their
aggressors or rapists. In Weblogistan bloggers copied a logo and informa-
tion about these women onto their blog and organized petitions to send
to international organizations. This common action raised national and
international attention and pressure, helping some of these women escape
the death penalty and secure freedom.^32 The first petition organized by
Weblogistan that had a positive impact in the physical world was for the
freedom of Sina Motalebi, whose weblog was banned in 2002. He was the
first blogger and journalist to be arrested.^33 Many bloggers added a logo
to their weblog, asking for his freedom, and organized a petition that was
signed by many Internet users and bloggers. Following these actions, Sina
Motalebi was freed and then migrated to Europe. Later, many petitions
were signed for the freedom of Ahmad Batebi, and his picture was used
as a logo in many weblogs; he became the symbol of jailed students under
the Islamic Republic.^34 In February and March 2007, some feminist blog-
gers and activists were arrested by the government because of their activ-
ity; many bloggers put a logo or their picture in their blog asking for their
freedom, and published the latest information about them on their blogs
each day. The majority of these activists were released after a few days,
some on a high bail paid by their families.
nother form of collective action by bloggers is humanitarian assis-A
tance. Charity associations and activities are part of social life in Iran;
these activities also have become popular in Weblogistan, where people
act together to collect money or to find aid for people in need. On some
occasions bloggers have even gathered in physical spaces to provide help.
For instance, in March 2003, a charity was organized by bloggers simulta-
neously in Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad to assist orphanages by collecting
money and spending time with the children. One of the most impressive
acts of charity in Weblogistan was organizing help for the victims of the
earthquake in Bam, in southeastern Iran, in January 2004. Bloggers orga-
nized diverse networks of assistance: some went directly to Bam and some
collected goods and money. In this way, many bloggers from outside Iran
participated and gathered a significant sum.