Activists condemn curbs on internet

Rights groups have condemned several Arab governments for blocking websites devoted to freedom of speech on political and social issues, calling the move an attempt to limit the free exchange of information. “Most Arab governments largely oppress freedoms of the press and expression,” said Cairo-based Arabic Network for Human Rights Information's (HRinfo) Programme Coordinator Sally Sami. The criticisms came after a number of Egypt-based websites were recently blocked, as well as several sites in Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. Despite government promises of political reform and greater media freedoms, most activists remain sceptical, and have taken the recent closures as confirmation of their fears. “There’s no freedom of expression in Egypt, despite government claims of improvements and reform on this front,” said HRinfo Director Gamal Eid. According to Eid,there are some 18 Egypt-based websites featuring articles critical of the government’s slow pace of reform and human rights record. Eid said that the site was closed down by TE Data, the internet arm of the largely state-owned fixed-line provider, Telecom Egypt. Nevertheless, masreyat.com remains accessible through proxy servers, he said. The government, meanwhile, denies any involvement. “I believe the closure of the site wasn’t politically motivated,” an official at the Ministry of Interior said, on condition of anonymity. “Logically speaking, such action wouldn’t be taken, as this would contradict recent reforms that have been especially sweeping in the media.” He added: “We’re witnessing a new era of openness in Egypt.” Despite these reassurances, however, activists say such pronouncements are largely cosmetic. “Media outlets that cross the line, such as the Dustour newspaper, face constant attack,” Eid said, referring to a popular weekly tabloid, known for strident criticism of the government. Red-line issues are generally considered to be personal criticism of President Hosni Mubarak and his immediate family or sensitive religious issues. Other online publications to face arbitrary closures have included websites affiliated with the Save Egypt Front, Hizb al-Aamal (Labour Party) and banned opposition group the Muslim Brotherhood, all of which have voiced criticisms of the government in recent years. “The Muslim Brotherhood in particular has often faced such actions,” said Sami. “But they’ve managed to get around this by opening a string of alternative sites under different names.” According to HRinfo, Cairo isn’t the only government in the Arab world to exert such pressures on home-grown websites. Recent offenders also include Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, the latter of which hosted the World Summit on Information Society conference – devoted to the issue of internet regulation – in November. “Tunisia has the worst record in the region in terms of internet control,” Eid said, citing the example of www.yezzi.org, a political discussion board, highly critical of the Tunisian regime, blocked only hours after its launch late last year. E-mails are routinely monitored, he added, while activists’ telephone lines are often blocked. “The Tunisian case is particularly worrying because the government tries hard to give the impression that it is liberal and democratic,” Eid said. Saudi Arabia-based websites featuring political criticism have fared no better. An online discussion among Saudi political activists, hosted by www.rezgar.com, was blocked only last week. In addtion, activists say any sites devoted to political reform and human rights in the country are inaccessable. According to HRinfo, at least 200 sites are currently inaccessible in Saudi Arabia, with Shi’ite minorities and political reformists facing the greatest limitations on freedom of expression. In addition, some Gulf states, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, have also been criticised for blocking sites, mainly those belonging to oppositionists, according to the Paris based Reporters Without Borders press freedom watchdog.