A group of 4 Lebanese, Egyptian and Palestinian women started a Facebook page entitled Uprising of Women in the Arab World during the Arab Spring. A few weeks after launching a campaign asking people in the Arab world to declare why they support the revolution of women, the campaign went viral. A few weeks ago, however, its administrators reported their images were being censored by Facebook.

The group had solicited messages in support for the uprising from women and men across the world. Contributors sent messages expressing why they support the uprising of women in the Arab world. The messages came from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Lebanon, Morocco and many other countries.

Some of the slogans raised include: "I am with the uprising in the Arab world because women's sexuality is considered as a taboo, while sexism, pedophilia, and rape are allowed." Another by a Syrian man read: "In Syria, they marry her off when she is 15. In Yemen, they strip her of her nationality. In Tunisia, they rape her and accuse her of being guilty. In Morocco, they marry her off to her rapist. And In Saudi Arabia, she doesn't drive a car. Her rights are totally crushed, and you want her not to revolt?"

In November, one contributor, Dana Bakdounes, posted a picture and an ID of herself expressing her freedom to show her skin and hair. A few days later, the photo was removed and the administrators were not allowed on the group's page.

The group experienced the temporary disabling of several of the administrators' accounts. Facebook did not immediately explain their reasoning behinds the moves until popular pressure had surged. Before long, the story of Facebook's suspected censorship had climbed to the top of popular site Reddit's world news feed, with over 3,000 'upvotes'. On Tuesday, Facebook issued an apology for the disabling of member accounts and the temporary removal of photos from the group, admitting "We made a mistake."

However, anger and suspicion about the site's action linger, and the episode highlights the complicated relationship among social media sites, government oversight, and popular resistance. One journalist, Hussain AbdulHussain, responded to the events, writing online, "Dear Facebook: If a photo of a woman removing her veil and saying that she wants to feel the air on her hair and body gets removed, you better stop giving yourself credit for the Arab spring". Similar incidents, including punishment of journalists and activists for their posts on social media sites, further illustrate the tension around such matters during what some were quick to call "A Facebook Revolution."

Controversy aside, the popularity of the Facebook group, with its 68,000 likes, has been a strong testament to widespread support for women in the Arab world. That its posts come from across the region and contribute to the page collectively is indicative of the deeply grassroots nature that has been characteristic of the uprisings. With the Facebook page up and running freely again, the group remains a powerful mark of solidarity during a time many see as pivotal for securing and consolidating women's rights and freedoms across the region.