Cotillion Blogger Jane Novak Hits The Big Time

Cotillion sister, Jane Novak of Armies of Liberation has been blogging about Yemani affairs for years, lately taking up the cause of Yemani journalist, Abdul Karim al-Khaiwani.

His story gained widespread attention in the blogosphere, recently, as more and more bloggers took up the cause. Now, finally, the New York Times has taken notice, and Jane is featured in an article, today: A Living Room Crusade Via Blogging:

Jane Novak, a 46-year-old stay-at-home mother of two in New Jersey, has never been to Yemen. She speaks no Arabic, and freely admits that until a few years ago, she knew nothing about that strife-torn south Arabian country.

And yet Ms. Novak has become so well known in Yemen that newspaper editors say they sell more copies if her photograph — blond and smiling — is on the cover. Her blog, an outspoken news bulletin on Yemeni affairs, is banned there. The government’s allies routinely vilify her in print as an American agent, a Shiite monarchist, a member of Al Qaeda, or “the Zionist Novak.”

The worst of her many offenses is her dogged campaign on behalf of a Yemeni journalist, Abdul Karim al-Khaiwani, who incurred his government’s wrath by writing about a bloody rebellion in the far north of the country. He is on trial on sedition charges that could bring the death penalty, with a verdict expected Wednesday.

Go read the entire thing. Register if you have to. It will be worth the effort. And sign the petition to help free al-Khaiwani, if you haven’t already.

Also, she’s going to be on CNN at 2:30, pm (est?), and will be doing a radio interview with the BBC at 6:30 pm (est?). I’m guessing eastern standard time on both of those.

Well done, Jane!

UPDATE:

More biggies covering this story:

K-Lo at the Corner

Jihad Watch

The Jawa Report

Not to mention: