Register or face legal action…
A six-month campaign is being launched next Monday to register all Bahraini websites, under orders from Information Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar.
…websites would face similar laws to newspapers, related to libel, public decency and ethics.
Just as a newspaper editor-in-chief is held responsible for what he publishes, so will the webmasters be…
[Source: Gulf Daily News]
Well even though this could have been great news if the goal behind it was to empower bloggers and give them more rights, it’s actually really bad news.
The purpose behind this move is an obvious attempt by the Bahraini government to keep a leash on Bahraini bloggers, track everyone and hold them accountable for their opinions.
We’ve already seen the kind of rights the people who were found out got.
It’s really a shame to see something like this happening. And what’s even worse is that we could see moves like this propagating across the Arab world.
Mahmood is proposing a plan of action against these rules.
I totally support the Bahraini bloggers’ cause and wish them the best of luck in putting an end to this madness. It’s a common cause for us all.
[Via: Mahmood’s Den, Savior Machine]
Way to go in a democratic state!
It’s a tailor-made democracy … it’s either way or no way at all 😉
Thanks for highlighting issues which are making life more and more unbearable in this otherwise PARADOXICAL PARADISE!
Well that doesn’t surprise me much after Bahrain passed a new constitution.
When i understand how they can control sites in Bahrain, i don’t see how they can control sites made outside…
We’re in the internet, sites can grow everywhere.
This is terrible!! I mean registering would limit their freedom -which is already limited in all Arab countries- so they’ll end up posting what? nothing!!
I hate this, I wish the plan of action will be supported and that they’ll be able to change this!
This is terrible!! I mean registering would limit their freedom -which is already limited in all Arab countries- so they’ll end up posting what? nothing!!
I hate this, I wish the plan of action will be supported and that they’ll be able to change this!
Frightening, but also the dream of many states unfortunately…
SillyBahrainiGirl, It’s a real shame.
I hope they drop this mad idea and recognize that people should be free to have opinions and express them.
Tunisiano, yes the plan is flawed. There is no way they can get all people to register because they don’t know who everybody is. Websites and blogs are hosted all over the world and there is no way for them to track them all.
Eman, that’s the plan. To scare the bloggers out of writing their opinions.
Fefe, I agree. Unfortunately many countries follow similar policies or are thinking of following them.