"Chat rooms monitored. Blogs deleted. Websites blocked. Search engines restricted. People imprisoned for simply posting and sharing information..."

From an article on the BBC website comes a report that Amnesty International, the human rights group, is calling upon webloggers to stand up for the right to free speech everywhere by using the very tool that allows them to publish their thoughts to the net: their blogs.

"'Freedom of expression online is a right, not a privilege - but it's a right that needs defending,' said Steve Ballinger of Amnesty International. 'We're asking bloggers worldwide to show their solidarity with web users in countries where they can face jail just for criticising the government.'

The human rights group is also taking its campaign to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) - a group set up by the UN to act as a debating body for national net policies. The first big meeting of the IGF takes place in Athens from 30 October to 2 November."

Being addressed in particular are the rights of bloggers already being held captive for publishing their opinions to their blogs including: Iranian Kianoosh Sanjari who was jailed earlier this month and is still being held for attempting to report on clashes between security forces and supporters of Shi'a cleric Ayatollah Boroujerdi; and Vietnamese cyber-dissidents being held for blogging opinions contrary to the doctine of their government.

To learn more about how you can get involved, visit the Amnesty International website "Amnesty Irrepressible."