[huridocs-tech] Arab governments' repression does not leave out the Internet

Press release
Arab Governments' Repression Does Not Leave Out the Internet
A New Study Affirms
Absence of Freedom of Expression

(Cairo, 7 June, 2004)- Most Arab governments do not exclude the Internet
from the restrictions they impose on the media, and the constraints placed
on political activity has a negative impact on Arab Internet websites and
users, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRINFO) said today.

Of the 11 Arab countries included in the study, three countries-Jordan,
UAE, and Qatar-provide a relatively higher degree of on-line freedom. The
other eight Arab countries impose heavy security restriction on Internet
users, which are commonly featured in the Arab world, HRINFO said in its
first study - the first published Arabic Study about Freedom of Expression
and the Internet in the Arab world- titled "The Internet in the Arab World:
A New Space of Repression?"

Initially, HRINFO aimed to shed light on the use of the Internet in the
Arab world, the number of Arab Internet users, and the number of the Arabic
language websites, and examine the reasons why they are so low. As the
study progressed, the initial analysis of the data collected -from
different media sources, foreign studies on the Internet in the Arab
region, and interviews, etc-induced HRINFO to release the study quickly, in
order to declare that it is the governments' policies of censorship and
bans, alongside with poverty and illiteracy bear the responsibility for
impeding the growth of the Internet in the Arab world.

"Arab governments typically use the protection of Islamic values and public
morals to justify banning websites of human rights or political opposition
groups that censure these governments; even forums are banned in Arab
countries," Gamal Eid, HRINFO's executive director and the writer of the
study said. "As a matter of fact," he added, "most of these governments
oppose freedom of expression in particular, and other political and civil
freedoms in general."

The study reveals that while some states arrest Internet users just for
surfing websites of the oppositional parties or groups, other countries use
the Internet to trap socially rejected segments in violation of regulatory
and legal requirements.

The study also exposes the false claims made by a country like Tunisia,
which has declared itself worthy of hosting the second phase of the World
Summit on the Information Society.

HRINFO calls upon the international society to avoid bestowing legitimacy
upon Tunisia's lie about its respect of freedom of expression, and to avoid
contributing to the ill-treatment of Tunisian citizens from a totalitarian
regime that does not respect the citizens' human rights and liberties.

"Neither the internet will refrain from publishing the violations made by
the governments and the security regimes, nor prisons will stop human
rights activists everywhere from exposing further violations", Gamal Eid
said. He asserted that "Arabs deserve to live a free life. Since policing
and repression of freedom of expression have proved to be failures, now it
is time to exercise the freedom of expression itself".

The 77-pages study is available in hard copies, in HRINFO office, and in an
electronic form on HRINFO website.

About The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
HRINFO is a central repository that makes available Middle East and North
African human rights organizations' reports and statements to Arabic
readers worldwide; provides resources about human rights issues to the
media, activists, and the general public; attempts to expand the circle of
Arabic readers interested in learning more about human rights issues and
organizations; provides links to major international organizations that
feature content in Arabic; increases access to information about specific
human rights issues or abuses.

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information is a partner in the Arabic
Portal for Human Rights
http://www.hrria.org
Hard copies of the study are available in HRINFO
For more information feel free to contact:
Gamal Eid
Executive Director
Cell: 020101936884
Or
Eman Herzallah
Translator
Cell: 0020124046573
For the electronic full text please go to:
English report: http://www.hrinfo.net/en/reports/net2004/
Arabic report: http://www.hrinfo.net/reports/net2004/




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