Tunisian Lina Ben Mhenni Nobel Peace Prize nominee

Tunisian blogger Lina Ben Mhenni has been picked up by the 2011 Nobel Prize Committee for her sustained activism through her blog "A Tunisian Girl," by showing scenes of repression and violence that took place during clashes between the former regime and protestors, particularly in Regueb and Sidi Bouzid last January 9. The choice of Lina Ben Mhenni, who is part of a list including, particularly, Egyptians Wael Ghonim and Israa Abdelfattah, stems from her strong criticism of social and political conditions in Tunisia and the posting on its Arabic-, French- and English-language blog of scenes of oppression and policing at the time of the ousted President. Reached by telephone, the Tunisian blogger and activist said she was pleasantly surprised when she heard the news on Tuesday by chance on Twitter, considering that being a nominee is not only an honour to her but also a responsibility that will prompt her to make of her blog a tool to raise awareness around the world to defend freedom of expression and make the voices of all oppressed people heard. "Though I was ferociously tracked down, I was committed to show to the whole world the reality of the real practices of the former regime in Tunisia, through such social networks as Twitter and Facebook," she added. Twenty seven-year-old Lina Ben Mhenni, who is Professor of English, was awarded last April the prize of best international blogger by "BOBS," the Deutsche Blog Welle Awards.