Bahrain web registration storm
p2pnet.net News:- A major internet storm is brewing in the tiny kingdom of Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf.
Bahrain`s first blogger, Mahmood Al-Yousif, posts on his web site, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which the Bahraini Government has COMMITTED to sign says: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Notwithstanding, from November this year, web site owners in the kingdom must register their names, addresses and telephone numbers with the Information Ministry, or face prosecution if they defy the new administrative order.
But Al-Yousif isn’t having any.
We have 6 months to fight this brain-fart, or else just shut up and gobble it all up, he posts. And although we cannot depend on the parliament, unfortunately it’s the only place we have to petition to do something.
Therefore what I propose is:
1. Don’t register any site, if at the expiry of the 6-month deadline comes about without any progress, put up a statement on our websites declaring the death of freedoms of speech in Bahrain and abandon the sites.
2. Organise an on-line petition where all webmasters and website patrons can electronically sign. At the end of the 6 month period print it out and hand it to the Chairman of the National Assembly. As it is his chamber through Ibrahim Bashmi who is working on the new press and media laws rather than the moronic chamber of representatives.
3. Immediately organise a meeting and invite ALL webmasters to attend to take this issue further.
If they think that we’d be lying down and taking it, they’ve got another thing coming.
Who’s with me?
Eighty-two point six one percent of the people who responded to an online poll organized by student bahrainblogger.
That’s who.
This survey is being carried out at about 5 websites in various interest categories in Bahrain and is targeted at those between the age ranges of 13 to 45, he says. However, anyone below or above that range is most welcome to participate as well. If there are any comments you have and would prefer to not post them on this thread, feel free to email your comments, constructive criticisms and suggestions to bahrainweb.survey@gmail.com.
Stay tuned.
(Thanks Strav)
Something you think we should know? tips[at]p2pnet.net
See:-
must register – Bahrain registration decree, April 28, 2005
Al-Yousif – A light-bulb faintly goes on, April 28, 2005
brain-fart – Freedom of Speech my big toe!, April 25, 2005
bahrainblogger – Will you register your website/blog with the Ministry of Information in Bahrain?, April 28, 2005
May 2nd, 2005 at 7:33 pm
thanks for the story and link Jon, a small correction though, it’s not a law, but an administrative order, and the registration would have started from today, May 2nd, 2005, yet the interesting thing there was absolutely no announcement in any of the press today, especially that the ministry has said that today would be the “launch” of a registration drive. There certainly was no launch today… so maybe that’s another thing they conveniently forgotten about!
regards
Mahmood Al-Yousif
May 2nd, 2005 at 8:22 pm
Fixed
—thanks for the story and link—
You’re welcome, Mahmood. One way or another, we’re all in this together ; )
Cheers
May 3rd, 2005 at 10:50 am
Seems everybody has their own plan to police the net. From petty councilmen to megacorporations, all are trying to figure out how to control and milk it for both information and money. It isn’t web bloggers and site hosts they have to fear. They are right there out in the open and for the most part are just Joe Citizen trying to add his thoughts.
If they are concerned for terrorists, folk that are causing troubles, and malcontents then they best develop a new plan. This one isn’t going to work for such. They are chasing the guy the earns his daily bread to support what he enjoys with this sort of tactic.