(Image source: International Business Times)
BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN
You're watching multisource world news analysis from Newsy.
When the world caught wind last week of the disappearance of an out lesbian blogger in Syria -- journalists and activists went on the hunt.
CNN, JUNE 6, 2011: “A well-known female blogger has allegedly been abducted in Syria. Relatives of Amina Abdullah say she hasn't been seen since she was bundled into a car yesterday. Her blog, ‘Gay Girl in Damascus’ has made her an icon of the Syrian uprising, often challenging the al Assad regime. Her disappearance has prompted thousands to join online campaigns on Facebook and Twitter demanding her release.”
Only -- the Gay Girl in Damascus -- was actually a heterosexual man in Scotland.
Tom MacMaster -- a 40-year-old American studying in Scotland -- confessed -- it was he who created the fictional character of Amina Abdullah Arraf.
On the blog -- he wrote... “I do not believe that I have harmed anyone - I feel that I have created an important voice for issues that I feel strongly about.”
Later on Monday – he posted a more heartfelt apology – explaining – it started out innocently – but Amina’s character “came alive.”
"I have hurt people with whom I share a side and a struggle. That matters. I have hurt causes I believe in sincerely. That is wrong."
So how did the web detectives figure him out?
According to reporting from The Guardian and others -- bloggers tracked IP addresses linked to the blog -- sourced to the University of Edinburgh -- where MacMaster is studying.
But for the bloggers and activists who campaigned online for her release -- MacMaster’s not getting off easy.
The blog Queerty writes... “...the next queer Middle-Easterner to cry for help on her blog will most likely receive a lethal amount of skepticism ... Now anti-gay foes can say that liberals have to fabricate stories...”
And from the blog Gay Middle East... "To Mr MacMaster, I say shame on you!!! … What you have done has harmed many, put us all in danger ... Add to that, that it might have caused doubts about the authenticity of our blogs, stories, and us.”
But AmericaBlog’s John Aravosis says what MacMaster did wasn’t necessarily wrong -- just that he got caught.
“...lying to make a difference only works, I suppose, if you're not caught. But if you are caught, then you kind of set things back. A lot. … I'm not opposed to black ops. But if you're gonna do ‘em, you better not screw up.”
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