Bloggers test boundaries in Saudi Arabia
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/09/AR200907090
1645.html>
By Asma Alsharif
Reuters
Thursday, July 9, 2009 9:58 AM
JEDDAH (Reuters) - Armed with a computer, an internet connection and his own
intellect Ahmed Al-Omran is one of a few Saudi bloggers trying to push for
change and make themselves heard in the conservative Gulf Arab monarchy.
Blogging provides a rare platform for speech in a country which has no
elected parliament, where clerics have strong influence on public opinion,
newspapers often parrot the official line and public demonstrations are
banned.
--snip--
PROBLEMS
Farhan himself has not resumed blogging since he was arrested in 2007 and
held for five months after campaigning on behalf of nine detained reformers.
He was released without charges.
Saudi researchers say there are up to 10,000 blogs in the kingdom. But many
are now inactive or have refrained from discussing politics since Alfarhan's
arrest.
Many blogs also steer clear of Islam, a sensitive issue, focusing more on
daily life and challenges for society.
"Alfarhan's incident showed that there are red lines that are not known,"
said Khaled al-Nasser, another blogger.
Abdulrahman al-Hazza, spokesman for the information ministry, said blogs
were generally not monitored.
But bloggers are worried about a law enacted earlier this year under which
anyone who "touches upon the general order, religious values, or general
conduct" can be prosecuted, according to the information ministry.
"Anyone can accuse me of that," said Omran. "My only fear is if the
government would use the law against people who want to express themselves
freely online. It could be used as a scare tactic."
The Committee to Protect Journalists listed Saudi Arabia in April as one of
the worst countries for bloggers, citing detentions, monitoring and blocking
of 400,000 websites.
--snip--
(Reporting by Asma Alsharif; Editing by Dominic Evans)
----
Mark Perkins MLIS, MCLIP
www.markperkins.info
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