A “Free Dorothy Parvaz” Facebook page has sprung up, in reponse to the Al Jazeera journalist’s disappearance inside Syria. Al Jazeera believes Parvaz, who flew to Damascus on Friday, may have been detained at the airport, as she never checked in following her flight. The Syrian government has been holding other journalists, some for weeks.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer readers will remember her as D. Parvaz, who enlivened a moribund People column with her evident disdain for its celebrity content, and then moved on to pen a “Popping Off” editorial that allowed her to share her insights into the Islamic world at a time when insight from American editorial pages was scarce.

The Seattlepi.com story on her disappearance notes her impact in these more serious matters:

Born in Iran, Parvaz’s connection to the Muslim world shaped her reporting while she was with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Shortly after 9/11, she wore the traditional Islamic clothing and wrote about Seattle’s reaction to her and her feelings; five years later, she traveled to Iran and issued a series of reports published in the newspaper.

In February 2005, after the People column went on rotation to other writers, I wrote her to say her touch was missed, and to congratulate her on the Popping Off promotion. She wrote back:

Here’s the thing: I’m not so fond of writing the People column…it takes much longer than you would think to find new ways to make fun of Paris Hilton (although Lord knows, she’s generous with providing ample material). So the column is on a rotation now, and rest assured, I’ll be back on it in a few months. In the meantime, I’m relieved to hear that you’ve like the Popping Off pieces. I’m having a ball writing those.

So, personally, Syria, from me to you: Things are crazy but be cool. You’re not going to see a fairer-minded journalist than D. Parvaz.