Saudi Gazette
By Su’ad Al-Salim and Faris Al-Qahtani
RIYADH – As Saudi Arabia steps up investigation and legal action against those who commit slander online, the Shoura Council is pushing for discussion on whether curbs need to be put on the electronic media, officials said.
The Ministry of Interior on Monday referred a case filed by 13 Saudi women journalists against an online news website for investigation by Security Affairs.
Riyadh Police, meanwhile, announced the launch of investigations into several cyber crimes allegedly committed with the intention of “harming others.”
Cyber crimes have become a phenomenon of late, said Riyadh Police spokesman Maj. Sami Al-Shuwairikh. He said police stations in the capital city have been receiving reports of libelous allegations posted on websites.
He said investigations included searching for the persons allegedly involved and referring them to the Prosecution General.
Al-Shuwairikh said specialists in cyber crimes who have joined the staff of Riyadh Police have successfully looked into several cases and have taken action according to the penal measures regulation.
Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said the ministry is acting in line with the regulation for combating cyber crimes.
The chaos caused by online slander has drawn the attention of several Shoura Council members who said they would demand an explanation from officials of the Ministry of Information and Culture.
Dr. Shubaili Al-Qarni, Adviser to the Culture and Information Committee (CIC) in the Shoura Council said, “The committee will look into the ministry’s reports. If the reports do not include information on online news websites, the committee can refer to such information in the ministry’s annual report – if it sees that the situation requires control of the electronic media.”
He said control of websites is lost when it is handed over to those who “are not qualified to do so,” especially at a time when they should show their loyalty to the religion, nation, its leadership and people.
Ibrahim Al-Blaihi, a CIC member, called upon the authorities concerned to take swift and firm action against those making libelous allegations against people. He said those who are being defamed are the ones leading the march of enlightening the society. – Okaz
Showing posts with label internet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label internet. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Qatar: Most Qatari women are Net savvy, reveals study
By Bonnie James, Gulf Times
Dr Azmi and Dr al-Issi at the session announcing the study findings
A majority of Qatari women, especially those in the 20 to 30 age group, are Net savvy, with a good number browsing the web one hour daily, a latest study has revealed.
“More than 68% of Qatari women use the internet,” Qatar University’s Information Science Programme co-ordinator Dr Hisham Azmi, who conducted the study, said.
Sponsored by the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), the exercise covered a total of 1,618 respondents, including 1,328 in the 20 to 30 age group.
“As many as 65% of the study participants use the I nternet more than four to six hours per week,” said Dr Azmi while presenting the findings.
While 63.7% Qatari women spend a hour daily in cyberspace, 2.2% were immersed in web browsing for up to seven hours a day.
Asked whether they visit chat rooms, 68.8% replied in the negative. It was observed that chat room regulars were those under 20 years.
Among the respondents, 53% have had no formal training on how to use the Internet, 55.7% were exploring the web from home, and 24.3% did so at educational institutions.
“If 79.9% used the Internet for personal purposes, 60.6% utilised the service for e-mail, and 21% visited websites,” Dr Azmi pointed out.
The e-government services were being used by 48.7% of Qatari women and 40.4% were eager to benefit from e-shopping services.
About 22% of the participants of the survey had established web pages on their own or for their work places, and 63% relied on search engines to source information.
The dominant perception of the Internet in general is positive, with 83.8% of Qatari women believing that more efforts have to be made to benefit from the Internet.“More than 95% consider the internet as a main source to gather information and about 90% believe in the necessity of censorship,” Dr Azmi pointed out.
The study recommended enriching and broadening the use of the Internet in the education process, and to improve the skills of Qatari women - whether they are IT- or English language-related, so that they can get the most benefit from the Internet.
The results of the study were presented at a session chaired by QU’s professor of sociology and SCFA’s Women’s Issues Committee chair Dr Juhaina al-Issi.
Dr Azmi and Dr al-Issi at the session announcing the study findings
A majority of Qatari women, especially those in the 20 to 30 age group, are Net savvy, with a good number browsing the web one hour daily, a latest study has revealed.
“More than 68% of Qatari women use the internet,” Qatar University’s Information Science Programme co-ordinator Dr Hisham Azmi, who conducted the study, said.
Sponsored by the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), the exercise covered a total of 1,618 respondents, including 1,328 in the 20 to 30 age group.
“As many as 65% of the study participants use the I nternet more than four to six hours per week,” said Dr Azmi while presenting the findings.
While 63.7% Qatari women spend a hour daily in cyberspace, 2.2% were immersed in web browsing for up to seven hours a day.
Asked whether they visit chat rooms, 68.8% replied in the negative. It was observed that chat room regulars were those under 20 years.
Among the respondents, 53% have had no formal training on how to use the Internet, 55.7% were exploring the web from home, and 24.3% did so at educational institutions.
“If 79.9% used the Internet for personal purposes, 60.6% utilised the service for e-mail, and 21% visited websites,” Dr Azmi pointed out.
The e-government services were being used by 48.7% of Qatari women and 40.4% were eager to benefit from e-shopping services.
About 22% of the participants of the survey had established web pages on their own or for their work places, and 63% relied on search engines to source information.
The dominant perception of the Internet in general is positive, with 83.8% of Qatari women believing that more efforts have to be made to benefit from the Internet.“More than 95% consider the internet as a main source to gather information and about 90% believe in the necessity of censorship,” Dr Azmi pointed out.
The study recommended enriching and broadening the use of the Internet in the education process, and to improve the skills of Qatari women - whether they are IT- or English language-related, so that they can get the most benefit from the Internet.
The results of the study were presented at a session chaired by QU’s professor of sociology and SCFA’s Women’s Issues Committee chair Dr Juhaina al-Issi.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Morocco: Morocco's telecommunications sector booming
Morocco's telecommunications sector booming
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 02/07/08
Ten years after the beginning of liberalisation in Morocco's telecommunications sector, indicators for the industry are all green. Business has increased rapidly over these ten years, although telephony and internet are not developing at the same pace. Turnover has surged from 8.5 billion dirhams in 1999 to 30 billion in 2007, equivalent to more than 7% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Liberalisation – a process undertaken ten years ago in the telecommunications sector – has made it possible to transition from a monopoly to a competitive market, and has helped Morocco become a regional leader in the industry.
According to Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, the sector is booming. "It has allowed the creation of 37,000 direct jobs and around 120,000 indirect jobs and represents half of the direct foreign investment made over the past five years," he said.
The number of landline subscribers reached 2,393,767 in 2007, compared with 1,266,119 subscribers in 2006 – an increase of 89%. Competition between the three private operators has had a beneficial effect on prices. The number of fixed residential lines has increased 136% during the same period. For mobile telephone subscribers, the number has increased from 16,004,731 in 2006 to some 20,029,030 by the end of 2007, an annual increase of 25%.
Despite the developments, telephony remains in its earliest stages, according to Azdine El Mountassir Billah, Director-General of the National Agency for Telecommunications Regulation (ANRT).
"All sectors in the economy are turning to the new technologies," he said. "Potential for development in the sector is still considerable."
Internet use has also increased, but not enough, the ANRT says. The number of ADSL subscribers is increasing constantly, with an annual growth rate of 57.6% in 2006 and 21.9% in 2007, but there are just 600,000 internet subscribers and 6 million internet users in total. Despite a population of more than 33 million, only 7,000 internet cafés are found in Morocco.
"I think the most important obstacle relates to a problem with content. This still falls short of what it is needed," El Mountassir Billah told reporters. "When an internet user is offered a number of online services, internet access will grow at practically the same rate as mobile telephone use. The sector requires some massive investment."
Although a good many Moroccans have fears over the security of their personal data on the net, El Mountassir Billah is keen to reassure them.
"The ANRT will work to narrow the digital gap," he said, "to encourage the development of support content, to protect people's private lives and to instil digital confidence to support electronic certification, business and the Administration."
---Magharebia.com
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 02/07/08
Ten years after the beginning of liberalisation in Morocco's telecommunications sector, indicators for the industry are all green. Business has increased rapidly over these ten years, although telephony and internet are not developing at the same pace. Turnover has surged from 8.5 billion dirhams in 1999 to 30 billion in 2007, equivalent to more than 7% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Liberalisation – a process undertaken ten years ago in the telecommunications sector – has made it possible to transition from a monopoly to a competitive market, and has helped Morocco become a regional leader in the industry.
According to Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, the sector is booming. "It has allowed the creation of 37,000 direct jobs and around 120,000 indirect jobs and represents half of the direct foreign investment made over the past five years," he said.
The number of landline subscribers reached 2,393,767 in 2007, compared with 1,266,119 subscribers in 2006 – an increase of 89%. Competition between the three private operators has had a beneficial effect on prices. The number of fixed residential lines has increased 136% during the same period. For mobile telephone subscribers, the number has increased from 16,004,731 in 2006 to some 20,029,030 by the end of 2007, an annual increase of 25%.
Despite the developments, telephony remains in its earliest stages, according to Azdine El Mountassir Billah, Director-General of the National Agency for Telecommunications Regulation (ANRT).
"All sectors in the economy are turning to the new technologies," he said. "Potential for development in the sector is still considerable."
Internet use has also increased, but not enough, the ANRT says. The number of ADSL subscribers is increasing constantly, with an annual growth rate of 57.6% in 2006 and 21.9% in 2007, but there are just 600,000 internet subscribers and 6 million internet users in total. Despite a population of more than 33 million, only 7,000 internet cafés are found in Morocco.
"I think the most important obstacle relates to a problem with content. This still falls short of what it is needed," El Mountassir Billah told reporters. "When an internet user is offered a number of online services, internet access will grow at practically the same rate as mobile telephone use. The sector requires some massive investment."
Although a good many Moroccans have fears over the security of their personal data on the net, El Mountassir Billah is keen to reassure them.
"The ANRT will work to narrow the digital gap," he said, "to encourage the development of support content, to protect people's private lives and to instil digital confidence to support electronic certification, business and the Administration."
---Magharebia.com
Monday, June 2, 2008
Egypt: Facebook showdown
Right now, the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is considering blocking Facebook, the social networking website that has become a popular hangout for twentysomethings worldwide and a favorite venue for Egypt's disaffected youth. The reason: In April, one group of young citizens mobilized 80,000 supporters to protest rising food prices.
Facebook networking played a crucial role in broadening support and turnout for an April 6 textile workers' strike and protest. The Egyptian government, which has governed for 25 years under emergency law and doesn't allow more than five people to gather unregistered, hit back hard, jailing young dissidents and torturing Ahmed Maher, a young activist who tried, unsuccessfully, to organize a second demonstration in early May.
Despite these setbacks, the "Facebook movement" in Egypt is significant for several reasons. First, it challenges the perception that there is no prospect for independent, secular opposition in the country. The majority of Egyptians are under 30 and have known no other ruler than Mubarak. They have not seen real political parties because the government has long restricted opposition parties and free media.
The Facebook movement engaged large numbers of youth for the first time. Second, the Web offers a safe political space -- a role the mosque has traditionally played in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood has for decades been the only viable opposition.
With Facebook, young secular people can communicate, build relationships and express their opinions freely. (Significantly, the Muslim Brotherhood opposed the successful April demonstration but supported the unsuccessful May event.) Every member in the 100,000-strong online community could be, at any given moment, a leader of a movement. Third, engaging Egypt's youth is an important item on the agenda of Mubarak's son, Gamal, as he works to gain support for his succession to power.
As a young politician, Gamal established the Future Generation Foundation in 2000, which incubated many of the current leaders of the ruling National Democratic Party and the new Cabinet. Facebook activists and their supporters should be able to turn to this group for support.
A few weeks ago, Belal Diab, a 20-year-old college student, interrupted one of the Egyptian prime minister's speeches to protest the arrests of Facebook activists, shouting: "Look who are you fighting; it is us, the younger generation who stood with you and supported you!"
Nevertheless, Facebook activists are being targeted by government-based media campaigns defaming the website and the youth activists who use it. The government also warns media not to talk about the phenomenon. I saw the heavy-handed efforts of the government while recording a TV show with Maher. During the taping, Egyptian police broke into the studio, threatened the station manager and forced the guest outside the room.
What can be done to help this movement? The international community and the U.S. government should pressure the Egyptian government to support Internet freedom and keep Facebook accessible to Egyptians. One young activist, Ahmad Samih, is campaigning to gain local and international support to prevent the Egyptian government from blocking Facebook.
So far, nearly 20 Egyptian human rights organizations are supporting this cause. International human rights organizations should publicly join in that show of support. Egyptian democrats are "Facebooking" their advocacy in order to escape heavy recriminations. It would be shameful for the international community not to stand up on their behalf against a government that seeks to deny them even that small space to express themselves.
Otherwise, Mubarak's self-fulfilling prophesy as the only alternative to the Muslim Brotherhood will continue to hold Egypt back from the democracy its people deserve.
-- Sherif Mansour, LA Times
Facebook networking played a crucial role in broadening support and turnout for an April 6 textile workers' strike and protest. The Egyptian government, which has governed for 25 years under emergency law and doesn't allow more than five people to gather unregistered, hit back hard, jailing young dissidents and torturing Ahmed Maher, a young activist who tried, unsuccessfully, to organize a second demonstration in early May.
Despite these setbacks, the "Facebook movement" in Egypt is significant for several reasons. First, it challenges the perception that there is no prospect for independent, secular opposition in the country. The majority of Egyptians are under 30 and have known no other ruler than Mubarak. They have not seen real political parties because the government has long restricted opposition parties and free media.
The Facebook movement engaged large numbers of youth for the first time. Second, the Web offers a safe political space -- a role the mosque has traditionally played in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood has for decades been the only viable opposition.
With Facebook, young secular people can communicate, build relationships and express their opinions freely. (Significantly, the Muslim Brotherhood opposed the successful April demonstration but supported the unsuccessful May event.) Every member in the 100,000-strong online community could be, at any given moment, a leader of a movement. Third, engaging Egypt's youth is an important item on the agenda of Mubarak's son, Gamal, as he works to gain support for his succession to power.
As a young politician, Gamal established the Future Generation Foundation in 2000, which incubated many of the current leaders of the ruling National Democratic Party and the new Cabinet. Facebook activists and their supporters should be able to turn to this group for support.
A few weeks ago, Belal Diab, a 20-year-old college student, interrupted one of the Egyptian prime minister's speeches to protest the arrests of Facebook activists, shouting: "Look who are you fighting; it is us, the younger generation who stood with you and supported you!"
Nevertheless, Facebook activists are being targeted by government-based media campaigns defaming the website and the youth activists who use it. The government also warns media not to talk about the phenomenon. I saw the heavy-handed efforts of the government while recording a TV show with Maher. During the taping, Egyptian police broke into the studio, threatened the station manager and forced the guest outside the room.
What can be done to help this movement? The international community and the U.S. government should pressure the Egyptian government to support Internet freedom and keep Facebook accessible to Egyptians. One young activist, Ahmad Samih, is campaigning to gain local and international support to prevent the Egyptian government from blocking Facebook.
So far, nearly 20 Egyptian human rights organizations are supporting this cause. International human rights organizations should publicly join in that show of support. Egyptian democrats are "Facebooking" their advocacy in order to escape heavy recriminations. It would be shameful for the international community not to stand up on their behalf against a government that seeks to deny them even that small space to express themselves.
Otherwise, Mubarak's self-fulfilling prophesy as the only alternative to the Muslim Brotherhood will continue to hold Egypt back from the democracy its people deserve.
-- Sherif Mansour, LA Times
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Saudi Arabia: Female Majority Seeking Online Legal Advice
Saudi legal personnel have revealed that the majority of clients seeking legal consultations on the internet are women; approximately 80 percent. This is attributed to a number of reasons, including social and psychological circumstances; the most important of which is the reservation that comes with sharing personal information, in addition to the need to find out legal information anonymously and with utmost discretion.
Dr. Osama Bikharji, the lawyer and legal advisor who owns the website 'muhamoon online' (lawyers online) told Asharq Al-Awsat that the fact that women comprise the largest proportion of clients seeking online legal advice is what compelled him to focus his study on Saudi women's need for privacy, as opposed to men, a fact that he ascribes to social reasons.
"Most Saudi women prefer to not consult in legal offices; they don't prefer to meet in a lawyer's personal office," he said.
With regards to the nature of the advice and queries that the women focus on, Bikharji disclosed, "Most of the legal issues for women are related to personal status, followed by queries about business transactions and questions about small- and medium-sized business systems." He believes that this is largely due to the Saudi women's dynamic entry into the world of business and projects, which has created a great need to find out more about laws and regulations, he said.
Thamer al Sikhan agrees with him. The owner of a legal and consultation firm in Jeddah, he told Asharq Al-Awsat in a phone interview that most of the women's questions revolve around personal status issues and matters related to business problems, the latter of which al Sikhan reveals represents the majority of the advice sought by men. He also pointed out that many of the clients on free online legal consultation websites have modest incomes and cannot afford to pay 500 Saudi Riyals (approximately US $134) for a legal consultation.
Al Sikhan explains the volume of Saudi women seeking legal advice online as, "I believe this stems from its easy nature and because it is a fast means. Instead of a woman going over to a law firm and paying for a consultation, she can visit 10 websites, most of which offer free consultations, and get 10 legal opinions."
He added that what distinguishes this method is the fact that questions can be direct and specific, which he believes is useful in giving women a lot of information and ideas before embarking on any business endeavor.
With regards to the compensation that lawyers can expect when providing free legal advice via the internet, al Sikhan who volunteers to provide free consultations said that these services aim to "disseminate legal awareness amongst the members of society."
He added that the free legal consultations increase the number of visitors to the website, which is what many lawyers are keen upon since it also makes the lawyers' names known amongst their clients and online visitors. Al Sikhan believes that this best serves a segment of society with a limited income.
Meanwhile, Bikharji believes that this step that was recently adopted by Saudi lawyers has been beneficial to a particular segment in society and especially for the women. In terms of the security measures taken to protect personal information, Bikharji confirmed that his website practiced confidentiality and was cautious to protect personal data ensuring that it was secure.
He also affirmed that all legal advice is provided by a team of qualified experts who specialize in various fields, furthermore pointing out that the fees for such consultations, if any, are usually modest and reasonable.
However, legal personnel have raised concerns about seeking legal advice from unidentified parties through websites or internet forums, stressing the importance of only dealing with licensed lawyers who are affiliated to the Saudi Ministry of Justice. This is to avoid the exploitation of clients' personal information and secure it against illegal leaking that could be detrimental to the clients.
It is worth noting that the legal departments on such websites include, Shariah, commercial, administrative, criminal, and personal status law. Moreover, the legal aspects include the requirements needed to set up Saudi- or mixed- businesses and the issuance of permits necessary for all businesses, whether commercial, industrial or services, in addition to drafting and reviewing contracts.
Online legal counseling varies from free of charge to a range of fees that are paid on a monthly or fixed-annual basis, or regular charges at the end of sessions.
By Iman al Khaddaf, Al Sharq al Awsat
Dr. Osama Bikharji, the lawyer and legal advisor who owns the website 'muhamoon online' (lawyers online) told Asharq Al-Awsat that the fact that women comprise the largest proportion of clients seeking online legal advice is what compelled him to focus his study on Saudi women's need for privacy, as opposed to men, a fact that he ascribes to social reasons.
"Most Saudi women prefer to not consult in legal offices; they don't prefer to meet in a lawyer's personal office," he said.
With regards to the nature of the advice and queries that the women focus on, Bikharji disclosed, "Most of the legal issues for women are related to personal status, followed by queries about business transactions and questions about small- and medium-sized business systems." He believes that this is largely due to the Saudi women's dynamic entry into the world of business and projects, which has created a great need to find out more about laws and regulations, he said.
Thamer al Sikhan agrees with him. The owner of a legal and consultation firm in Jeddah, he told Asharq Al-Awsat in a phone interview that most of the women's questions revolve around personal status issues and matters related to business problems, the latter of which al Sikhan reveals represents the majority of the advice sought by men. He also pointed out that many of the clients on free online legal consultation websites have modest incomes and cannot afford to pay 500 Saudi Riyals (approximately US $134) for a legal consultation.
Al Sikhan explains the volume of Saudi women seeking legal advice online as, "I believe this stems from its easy nature and because it is a fast means. Instead of a woman going over to a law firm and paying for a consultation, she can visit 10 websites, most of which offer free consultations, and get 10 legal opinions."
He added that what distinguishes this method is the fact that questions can be direct and specific, which he believes is useful in giving women a lot of information and ideas before embarking on any business endeavor.
With regards to the compensation that lawyers can expect when providing free legal advice via the internet, al Sikhan who volunteers to provide free consultations said that these services aim to "disseminate legal awareness amongst the members of society."
He added that the free legal consultations increase the number of visitors to the website, which is what many lawyers are keen upon since it also makes the lawyers' names known amongst their clients and online visitors. Al Sikhan believes that this best serves a segment of society with a limited income.
Meanwhile, Bikharji believes that this step that was recently adopted by Saudi lawyers has been beneficial to a particular segment in society and especially for the women. In terms of the security measures taken to protect personal information, Bikharji confirmed that his website practiced confidentiality and was cautious to protect personal data ensuring that it was secure.
He also affirmed that all legal advice is provided by a team of qualified experts who specialize in various fields, furthermore pointing out that the fees for such consultations, if any, are usually modest and reasonable.
However, legal personnel have raised concerns about seeking legal advice from unidentified parties through websites or internet forums, stressing the importance of only dealing with licensed lawyers who are affiliated to the Saudi Ministry of Justice. This is to avoid the exploitation of clients' personal information and secure it against illegal leaking that could be detrimental to the clients.
It is worth noting that the legal departments on such websites include, Shariah, commercial, administrative, criminal, and personal status law. Moreover, the legal aspects include the requirements needed to set up Saudi- or mixed- businesses and the issuance of permits necessary for all businesses, whether commercial, industrial or services, in addition to drafting and reviewing contracts.
Online legal counseling varies from free of charge to a range of fees that are paid on a monthly or fixed-annual basis, or regular charges at the end of sessions.
By Iman al Khaddaf, Al Sharq al Awsat
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Saudi Arabia: Blogging for change in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Jeans focuses on topics such as freedom of expression, human and women's rights, as well as democracy and justice.
Al Omran also runs the yawmyat blog in Arabic and is one of the co-founders of Saudi Blogs.
In addition to that, he regularly appears in mainstream media through interviews granted to outlets ranging from CNN to the Saudi Gazette or Agence France-Presse.
APN: Why do you blog?
AHMED AL-OMRAN: I started Saudi Jeans in May 2004 without a clear goal in mind. I just wanted to try this "new cool thing on the web" and practice my English. But a few weeks later, I noticed a good amount of interest and curiosity from readers in Saudi Arabia, so I started to take the blogging thing more seriously.
Why I blog? Because I want to be part of the change that is taking place in our country. I want to push for political and social reform, and I want to push for more freedom and more justice.
APN: What topics inspire you?
AL-OMRAN: I try to focus on political and social issues in the Kingdom, but of particular interest to me are topics like freedom of expression, human and women's rights, as well as democracy and justice.
APN: Do you practice self-censorship?
AL-OMRAN: I try very hard not to censor myself because if I did, there wouldn't be any point of having a blog. I don't think there are many taboos that I would refrain from touching. Yes, it can be dangerous to elaborate on one or two topics, but I believe you can always find a way to express your opinion without jeopardizing your safety.
APN: What do you see as the difference between a blogger and a journalist?
AL-OMRAN: That's a big question, and a difficult one as well. I think one of the main differences is the absence of an editor. Bloggers get a chance to communicate with audience directly, without filtration or being edited, which gives them more freedom and more power over information.
Another big difference is the style: bloggers use a human voice that is more genuine and more natural, while journalists must adhere to certain standards when reporting, which yields a bland and mechanic voice. I think both can be combined in one way or another: the human voice could be the result of the absence of editing.
APN: What has been your most popular post?
AL-OMRAN: I'm not quite sure but I guess it's the one titled, "Women's Driving: Do We Need Another King Faisal?" Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive a car, and it is one of the biggest debates in the Kingdom during the past years. In my post, I argued that we need a firm political decision by our leadership to solve this situation, similar to King Faisal's decision to introduce the education of girls in the 1970s when many people in our society were against it. However, he stood firmly behind his decision and today more than half of the college graduates in the country are female.
APN: What kind of comments do you receive? Do you moderate them?
AL-OMRAN: There is a lot of diversity in the comments, from those who agree with me wholeheartedly to those who fiercely disagree with me, and everything that is in between. I don't moderate comments, and enjoy the discussions amongst my readers, but sometimes things can get out of hand, in which case I am obliged to shut down the comments on a certain post.
APN: How did you choose the name of your blogs?
AL-OMRAN: As I explain in my About page: "The fact is, there's nothing called "Saudi Jeans" but this blog. There is no Saudi Jeans. I made up this name because I'm Saudi and I do like jeans. I think that "jeans" is a symbol of a lot of different things and ideas here in Saudi Arabia. Things and ideas that a lot of people say it's bad and it has no relation with our culture and traditions, but in the same time everybody use it and believe in it."
APN: Why did you choose to blog in English?
AL-OMRAN: As I said earlier, it was just to practice my English, but soon I realized that blogging in English means that you have a very wide and interesting audience, since it is a universal language.
(This article is part of a series of interviews with prominent bloggers in the Arab world by The Arab Press Network, a web portal by the World Association of Newspapers.)
Al Omran also runs the yawmyat blog in Arabic and is one of the co-founders of Saudi Blogs.
In addition to that, he regularly appears in mainstream media through interviews granted to outlets ranging from CNN to the Saudi Gazette or Agence France-Presse.
APN: Why do you blog?
AHMED AL-OMRAN: I started Saudi Jeans in May 2004 without a clear goal in mind. I just wanted to try this "new cool thing on the web" and practice my English. But a few weeks later, I noticed a good amount of interest and curiosity from readers in Saudi Arabia, so I started to take the blogging thing more seriously.
Why I blog? Because I want to be part of the change that is taking place in our country. I want to push for political and social reform, and I want to push for more freedom and more justice.
APN: What topics inspire you?
AL-OMRAN: I try to focus on political and social issues in the Kingdom, but of particular interest to me are topics like freedom of expression, human and women's rights, as well as democracy and justice.
APN: Do you practice self-censorship?
AL-OMRAN: I try very hard not to censor myself because if I did, there wouldn't be any point of having a blog. I don't think there are many taboos that I would refrain from touching. Yes, it can be dangerous to elaborate on one or two topics, but I believe you can always find a way to express your opinion without jeopardizing your safety.
APN: What do you see as the difference between a blogger and a journalist?
AL-OMRAN: That's a big question, and a difficult one as well. I think one of the main differences is the absence of an editor. Bloggers get a chance to communicate with audience directly, without filtration or being edited, which gives them more freedom and more power over information.
Another big difference is the style: bloggers use a human voice that is more genuine and more natural, while journalists must adhere to certain standards when reporting, which yields a bland and mechanic voice. I think both can be combined in one way or another: the human voice could be the result of the absence of editing.
APN: What has been your most popular post?
AL-OMRAN: I'm not quite sure but I guess it's the one titled, "Women's Driving: Do We Need Another King Faisal?" Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive a car, and it is one of the biggest debates in the Kingdom during the past years. In my post, I argued that we need a firm political decision by our leadership to solve this situation, similar to King Faisal's decision to introduce the education of girls in the 1970s when many people in our society were against it. However, he stood firmly behind his decision and today more than half of the college graduates in the country are female.
APN: What kind of comments do you receive? Do you moderate them?
AL-OMRAN: There is a lot of diversity in the comments, from those who agree with me wholeheartedly to those who fiercely disagree with me, and everything that is in between. I don't moderate comments, and enjoy the discussions amongst my readers, but sometimes things can get out of hand, in which case I am obliged to shut down the comments on a certain post.
APN: How did you choose the name of your blogs?
AL-OMRAN: As I explain in my About page: "The fact is, there's nothing called "Saudi Jeans" but this blog. There is no Saudi Jeans. I made up this name because I'm Saudi and I do like jeans. I think that "jeans" is a symbol of a lot of different things and ideas here in Saudi Arabia. Things and ideas that a lot of people say it's bad and it has no relation with our culture and traditions, but in the same time everybody use it and believe in it."
APN: Why did you choose to blog in English?
AL-OMRAN: As I said earlier, it was just to practice my English, but soon I realized that blogging in English means that you have a very wide and interesting audience, since it is a universal language.
(This article is part of a series of interviews with prominent bloggers in the Arab world by The Arab Press Network, a web portal by the World Association of Newspapers.)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Egypt: A Facebook Revolution
When most people log onto Facebook, the thought of fermenting revolution is pretty far from their minds. But in the Middle East, and most recently in Egypt, Facebook has become an important platform for dissent in countries that routinely clampdown on liberal activists, and where the mosque has traditionally been the only outlet for venting political frustration.
Last month saw the arrest of Esra Abdel Fattah, 27, after she formed a group on Facebook calling for protests against the high price of food and other commodities in Egypt. Strike action was already planned by factory workers in the Nile Delta city of Mahalla al-Kobra, and the Facebook group, which attracted 64,000 members, tapped into a national mood of unrest. During Fattah’s incarceration, police clashed with protestors in Mahalla, killing three; some 500 people were detained.
By the time Egyptian police freed her two weeks ago, Fattah, an active online activist and member of the liberal al-Ghad political party, had become something of a cyber folk hero, feted by Middle Eastern bloggers and tech-minded students. A second Facebook group began calling for the release of Fattah and the other detainees, and for further protests on May 4th. A Cairo University student even heckled the Egyptian prime minister as he gave a speech at the campus on role of the internet as a communication tool:
“Prime Minister, release all the… detainees,” he said. “They are the same young people who used the Internet to express their opinions."
But on her release, Fattah gave a press conference in which she admitted her Facebook activities were a mistake, and that she would no longer take part in protest networking.
It’s not difficult to imagine the level of intimidation she must have faced from the Egyptian regime, one of the more thuggish in the region. Last week, another Facebook activist Ahmed Mayer Ibrahim was arrested by Egyptian police for his membership of May 4th protest group (the protest led to some shops closing, and a subdued mood on the streets, but on the whole protestors stayed home). The 27-year-old civil engineer was stripped naked and beaten intermittently for 12 hours before being released without charge.
All of this has left Egyptian bloggers and other Facebook activists taking stock of their sudden elevation to the forefront of cyber protest, and the government’s brutal response.Some, like Mohammed Nabil, a Cairo University student and Facebook activist, remain undeterred and point to a glorious new era of online activism.
“The people who are signing up to protest on Facebook aren’t the sort of people who’d normally get involved in politics. In the past the activists have often been Islamists, but now the Internet is reaching out to a new generation,” said Nabil.
He added that the government would find it impossible to police the internet.
But others are not so sure that Facebook activism isn’t just window-dressing for the more the more important task of “on-the-ground” activism. What scares the government, they say, is not the activities of the privileged middle class who have internet access, but the millions of impoverished laborers, factory hands, and the unemployed. So far the jury is out on Facebook’s ability to mobilize the masses: the April protests that Fattah called coincided with pre-arranged strike plans among workers, but the more purely Facebook phenomenon strike called earlier this month largely petered out.
The popular blog 3arabawy has been keen to play down the role of Facebook:
“I hope our peers in the activist community will wake up and realize now the limitations of online activism…” writes Hossam el-Hamalawy, the blog’s author. “Let’s get back to organizing on the ground, fellow bloggers, and leave behind these cyber-fantasies.”
But although Facebook activism may not be able to spark protest – at least not yet – it has succeeded in advertising and amplifying Egyptian unrest. It may also succeed in aligning radical workers with the dissenting voices in the middle class.
The Egyptian government is certainly worried enough by Facebook to take action against the likes of Fattah (two other online activists who were detained at the same time are still in custody). But in a country where the average age is just 24, and more than 20% of the country lives below the poverty line, the government faces an impossible task in trying to stifle protest.
And it may be that Facebook, like the mosque, provides an essential pressure valve for frustration and discontent.
-- Washington Post
Last month saw the arrest of Esra Abdel Fattah, 27, after she formed a group on Facebook calling for protests against the high price of food and other commodities in Egypt. Strike action was already planned by factory workers in the Nile Delta city of Mahalla al-Kobra, and the Facebook group, which attracted 64,000 members, tapped into a national mood of unrest. During Fattah’s incarceration, police clashed with protestors in Mahalla, killing three; some 500 people were detained.
By the time Egyptian police freed her two weeks ago, Fattah, an active online activist and member of the liberal al-Ghad political party, had become something of a cyber folk hero, feted by Middle Eastern bloggers and tech-minded students. A second Facebook group began calling for the release of Fattah and the other detainees, and for further protests on May 4th. A Cairo University student even heckled the Egyptian prime minister as he gave a speech at the campus on role of the internet as a communication tool:
“Prime Minister, release all the… detainees,” he said. “They are the same young people who used the Internet to express their opinions."
But on her release, Fattah gave a press conference in which she admitted her Facebook activities were a mistake, and that she would no longer take part in protest networking.
It’s not difficult to imagine the level of intimidation she must have faced from the Egyptian regime, one of the more thuggish in the region. Last week, another Facebook activist Ahmed Mayer Ibrahim was arrested by Egyptian police for his membership of May 4th protest group (the protest led to some shops closing, and a subdued mood on the streets, but on the whole protestors stayed home). The 27-year-old civil engineer was stripped naked and beaten intermittently for 12 hours before being released without charge.
All of this has left Egyptian bloggers and other Facebook activists taking stock of their sudden elevation to the forefront of cyber protest, and the government’s brutal response.Some, like Mohammed Nabil, a Cairo University student and Facebook activist, remain undeterred and point to a glorious new era of online activism.
“The people who are signing up to protest on Facebook aren’t the sort of people who’d normally get involved in politics. In the past the activists have often been Islamists, but now the Internet is reaching out to a new generation,” said Nabil.
He added that the government would find it impossible to police the internet.
But others are not so sure that Facebook activism isn’t just window-dressing for the more the more important task of “on-the-ground” activism. What scares the government, they say, is not the activities of the privileged middle class who have internet access, but the millions of impoverished laborers, factory hands, and the unemployed. So far the jury is out on Facebook’s ability to mobilize the masses: the April protests that Fattah called coincided with pre-arranged strike plans among workers, but the more purely Facebook phenomenon strike called earlier this month largely petered out.
The popular blog 3arabawy has been keen to play down the role of Facebook:
“I hope our peers in the activist community will wake up and realize now the limitations of online activism…” writes Hossam el-Hamalawy, the blog’s author. “Let’s get back to organizing on the ground, fellow bloggers, and leave behind these cyber-fantasies.”
But although Facebook activism may not be able to spark protest – at least not yet – it has succeeded in advertising and amplifying Egyptian unrest. It may also succeed in aligning radical workers with the dissenting voices in the middle class.
The Egyptian government is certainly worried enough by Facebook to take action against the likes of Fattah (two other online activists who were detained at the same time are still in custody). But in a country where the average age is just 24, and more than 20% of the country lives below the poverty line, the government faces an impossible task in trying to stifle protest.
And it may be that Facebook, like the mosque, provides an essential pressure valve for frustration and discontent.
-- Washington Post
Monday, April 28, 2008
Egypt: Egypt's Facebook Girl
In a tone that belied his excitement, a visiting journalist friend from Egypt related at great length the events of the April 6 strike in which confrontations and clashes broke out in the city.
He was particularly charged because he had images on his personal laptop that had been banned from publication in national Egyptian newspapers. The journalist's stories were incredibly interesting – especially since he had witnessed events that the media and the press did not relay to us.
However, the most compelling topic of conversation revolved around what has come to be known as 'the Facebook girl', aka the Egyptian Esraa Abdel Fatah (27 years old). Abdel Fatah who works in a private company as a Human Resources coordinator has suddenly become one of the most prominent detained figures arrested on charges of inciting a strike and causing disruption and rioting.
She was later released; however she was not the only one to be detained, several writers and bloggers have previously been arrested. The Egyptian journalist described Esraa as an ordinary Egyptian girl with no previous record of political activism or media or human rights activities.
In fact, he revealed that Esraa's colleagues in Al Ghad Party (The Tomorrow party), which she had joined less than a year ago, call her "Tomorrow's biscuit" in reference to her pleasant nature and sweet disposition.
Abdel Fatah was not on the government's list of known oppositional figures; she refused to join the "strike" group on Facebook, for example, which attacks various state symbols. To this day, the Egyptians still cannot fathom how this girl through a group invitation on Facebook managed to draw approximately 70,000 members who joined the group on the world's most famous interactive website.
Esraa's Facebook group succeeded in doing what Egyptian political groups failed to achieve, and it would be hard to believe that she could have been aware of the magnitude of the response she got for setting up the group. The fact remains that this huge response amongst Egyptian internet browsers indicates the extent of the need for platforms of expression other than what traditional media offers, which is also incapable of absorbing that need.
A broad segment of the public has resorted to this means of communication [internet] after the intensification of awareness in political issues and personal and public freedoms – all of which are subjected to varying degrees of limitations and opacity. There is no doubt that the future of the media is taking a historic turn towards the internet, based on the consideration that it is the means by which media outlets have the ability to become solid, ongoing and in a continuous state of progression.
It has become common knowledge that one year of internet [developments] is the equivalent of four years in other media mediums.This indicates that the internet is in a constant state of flux and continues to develop very quickly. No month passes without a qualitative development in the modus operanti of the World Wide Web – alongside with the tangential progression that happens as a result.
For example, the transition from blogs into Facebook was a smooth one, which also indicates a need for more liberated means of expression that are far removed from the institutionalized rules and regulations of traditional media.
This, however, is countered by the disruption and confusion that reigns over some Arab governments by virtue of the marginalization of the traditional means of surveillance that such states are witnessing, and which are incapable of keeping up with developments in communication.
-- Al Sharq al Awsat
He was particularly charged because he had images on his personal laptop that had been banned from publication in national Egyptian newspapers. The journalist's stories were incredibly interesting – especially since he had witnessed events that the media and the press did not relay to us.
However, the most compelling topic of conversation revolved around what has come to be known as 'the Facebook girl', aka the Egyptian Esraa Abdel Fatah (27 years old). Abdel Fatah who works in a private company as a Human Resources coordinator has suddenly become one of the most prominent detained figures arrested on charges of inciting a strike and causing disruption and rioting.
She was later released; however she was not the only one to be detained, several writers and bloggers have previously been arrested. The Egyptian journalist described Esraa as an ordinary Egyptian girl with no previous record of political activism or media or human rights activities.
In fact, he revealed that Esraa's colleagues in Al Ghad Party (The Tomorrow party), which she had joined less than a year ago, call her "Tomorrow's biscuit" in reference to her pleasant nature and sweet disposition.
Abdel Fatah was not on the government's list of known oppositional figures; she refused to join the "strike" group on Facebook, for example, which attacks various state symbols. To this day, the Egyptians still cannot fathom how this girl through a group invitation on Facebook managed to draw approximately 70,000 members who joined the group on the world's most famous interactive website.
Esraa's Facebook group succeeded in doing what Egyptian political groups failed to achieve, and it would be hard to believe that she could have been aware of the magnitude of the response she got for setting up the group. The fact remains that this huge response amongst Egyptian internet browsers indicates the extent of the need for platforms of expression other than what traditional media offers, which is also incapable of absorbing that need.
A broad segment of the public has resorted to this means of communication [internet] after the intensification of awareness in political issues and personal and public freedoms – all of which are subjected to varying degrees of limitations and opacity. There is no doubt that the future of the media is taking a historic turn towards the internet, based on the consideration that it is the means by which media outlets have the ability to become solid, ongoing and in a continuous state of progression.
It has become common knowledge that one year of internet [developments] is the equivalent of four years in other media mediums.This indicates that the internet is in a constant state of flux and continues to develop very quickly. No month passes without a qualitative development in the modus operanti of the World Wide Web – alongside with the tangential progression that happens as a result.
For example, the transition from blogs into Facebook was a smooth one, which also indicates a need for more liberated means of expression that are far removed from the institutionalized rules and regulations of traditional media.
This, however, is countered by the disruption and confusion that reigns over some Arab governments by virtue of the marginalization of the traditional means of surveillance that such states are witnessing, and which are incapable of keeping up with developments in communication.
-- Al Sharq al Awsat
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Saudi Arabia: Human Rights Commission Launches Website
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat- On March 2, 2008, the head of the Human Rights Commission, Turki Sudairi inaugurated the Saudi Human Rights Commission’s website that will now accept complaints submitted via email and offer various online services.
Dr. Zaid al Hussein, the vice president of the Commission’s board for journalists, explained that “Anybody can lodge a complaint via e-mail. However, before we proceed with the complaint, we will determine the credibility of the sender.”
According to Sudairi, the Human Rights Commission is facing problems with up to half of the cases that it deals with as a result of “the lack of rules to regulate the process of examining these complaints.”
The Human Rights Commission has resolved approximately 1,500 cases whilst only 20-30% of cases presented to it have been settled, explained Sudairi.
At a press conference after the inauguration of the Commission’s website Sudairi stated, “The cases in which the Commission intervened have been settled on a personal level and did not reach the level of documentation.” Cases that have been solved have been related to security, social, domestic and work issues.
The head of the Commission stated that the level of response from the Commission was yet to improve and that efforts should be doubled in this regard.
Turki Sudairi alluded to the possibility of women becoming board members of the Commission and referred to the failure to open a women-only office in the Saudi capital for “bureaucratic reasons.”
According to Sudairi, however, there is an active group of female workers who work in women-only environments at the Commission’s two offices in Dammam and Jeddah, in addition to other women who, through the Commission’s headquarters in Riyadh, submit reports on domestic cases at the request of the Commission itself.
Al Sudairi stated that the Human Rights Commission is on the verge of completing its first report.
The Commission is awaiting approval from the authorities of a public strategy that it has prepared to spread the culture of human rights in Saudi society, which is expected to come into effect soon according to Dr. Zaid al Hussein.
The website of the Human Rights Commission will conduct public opinion polls via interactive services, and the results, according to al Hussein, will be presented as statistics through the website.
The community will be able to communicate with representatives of the website via a “messenger” service in order to launch continuous dialogue between all parties, said Zaid al Hussein.
The official spokesman for the Human Rights Commission and board member Zuhair al Hareth told Asharq Al-Awsat that the organisation plans to establish a 24-hour emergency phone line for those involved in cases.
-- By Turki Al-Saheil, Al Sharq al Awsat
Dr. Zaid al Hussein, the vice president of the Commission’s board for journalists, explained that “Anybody can lodge a complaint via e-mail. However, before we proceed with the complaint, we will determine the credibility of the sender.”
According to Sudairi, the Human Rights Commission is facing problems with up to half of the cases that it deals with as a result of “the lack of rules to regulate the process of examining these complaints.”
The Human Rights Commission has resolved approximately 1,500 cases whilst only 20-30% of cases presented to it have been settled, explained Sudairi.
At a press conference after the inauguration of the Commission’s website Sudairi stated, “The cases in which the Commission intervened have been settled on a personal level and did not reach the level of documentation.” Cases that have been solved have been related to security, social, domestic and work issues.
The head of the Commission stated that the level of response from the Commission was yet to improve and that efforts should be doubled in this regard.
Turki Sudairi alluded to the possibility of women becoming board members of the Commission and referred to the failure to open a women-only office in the Saudi capital for “bureaucratic reasons.”
According to Sudairi, however, there is an active group of female workers who work in women-only environments at the Commission’s two offices in Dammam and Jeddah, in addition to other women who, through the Commission’s headquarters in Riyadh, submit reports on domestic cases at the request of the Commission itself.
Al Sudairi stated that the Human Rights Commission is on the verge of completing its first report.
The Commission is awaiting approval from the authorities of a public strategy that it has prepared to spread the culture of human rights in Saudi society, which is expected to come into effect soon according to Dr. Zaid al Hussein.
The website of the Human Rights Commission will conduct public opinion polls via interactive services, and the results, according to al Hussein, will be presented as statistics through the website.
The community will be able to communicate with representatives of the website via a “messenger” service in order to launch continuous dialogue between all parties, said Zaid al Hussein.
The official spokesman for the Human Rights Commission and board member Zuhair al Hareth told Asharq Al-Awsat that the organisation plans to establish a 24-hour emergency phone line for those involved in cases.
-- By Turki Al-Saheil, Al Sharq al Awsat
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Saudi Arabia: Government tightens grip on internet use
by David Westley
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has begun implementing new laws for controlling the use of technology for terrorism, fraud, pornography, defamation, violating religious values and disregarding public etiquette.
The new information technology law contains 16 articles, and provides a maximum penalty of 10 years and a SR5 million fine for persons found guilty of running web sites in support of terrorist organisations. A maximum penalty of three years and a SR500,000 fine will be handed to anyone found guilty of financial or data fraud, or found guilty of attacking the private life of another subject.
The new law also covers the religious and social use of information and communications technology. Those who produce and distribute IT materials that violate public law, religious values and public etiquette will receive up to five years in jail, and a SR3 million fine.
Those who use information technology to spread and market pornography will face the same punishment.The new law comes into effect as Saudi Arabia faces the world's attention for its treatment of Saudi blogger Ahmad Fouad Al-Farhan.
Al-Farhan was arrested for violating "non-security regulations", and is believed to be the first online critic to be arrested in the kingdom.Al-Farhan’s blog - Searching for freedom, dignity, justice, equality, shoura and all the rest of lost Islamic values - has posted a letter, allegedly from Al-Farhan, which states he believes he was arrested because he "wrote about political prisoners in Saudi Arabia".
According to a Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry source, speaking to Saudi newspaper, Arab News, the new law has been introduced to "combat IT-related crimes that threatens security and safety of human societies".
Punishment will be extended to those who aid those who commit IT crime; while those show that they exhibited intent to commit the crime through their actions, even if the crime didn’t take place, will receive up to half the maximum sentence.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has begun implementing new laws for controlling the use of technology for terrorism, fraud, pornography, defamation, violating religious values and disregarding public etiquette.
The new information technology law contains 16 articles, and provides a maximum penalty of 10 years and a SR5 million fine for persons found guilty of running web sites in support of terrorist organisations. A maximum penalty of three years and a SR500,000 fine will be handed to anyone found guilty of financial or data fraud, or found guilty of attacking the private life of another subject.
The new law also covers the religious and social use of information and communications technology. Those who produce and distribute IT materials that violate public law, religious values and public etiquette will receive up to five years in jail, and a SR3 million fine.
Those who use information technology to spread and market pornography will face the same punishment.The new law comes into effect as Saudi Arabia faces the world's attention for its treatment of Saudi blogger Ahmad Fouad Al-Farhan.
Al-Farhan was arrested for violating "non-security regulations", and is believed to be the first online critic to be arrested in the kingdom.Al-Farhan’s blog - Searching for freedom, dignity, justice, equality, shoura and all the rest of lost Islamic values - has posted a letter, allegedly from Al-Farhan, which states he believes he was arrested because he "wrote about political prisoners in Saudi Arabia".
According to a Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry source, speaking to Saudi newspaper, Arab News, the new law has been introduced to "combat IT-related crimes that threatens security and safety of human societies".
Punishment will be extended to those who aid those who commit IT crime; while those show that they exhibited intent to commit the crime through their actions, even if the crime didn’t take place, will receive up to half the maximum sentence.
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