Posted on 08/03/2006 10:12:22 AM PDT by WmShirerAdmirer
Syrian authorities have shut down numerous internet sites in recent days including the Hotmail portal. Among those in the firing line - for publishing news and messages that contrast with the Damascus regime or could be "dangerous" for citizens - is the Saudi daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, which has taken an openly critical stance towards Hezbollah and various states in the region including Syria. Another critical daily, al-Shaffaf, has also had its online version rendered inaccessible.
The hotmail portal was already shut down by the Syrian authorities in 2000 but then rehabilitated four years later. The official motivation for the latest intervention is that "it is not possible to control the email on this site" according to information technology experts following the case in Syria.
London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi, Elaph and scores of sites linked to the Syrian opposition have also been made inaccessible.
Damascus, 19 July (AKI) - Syrian authorities have shut down numerous internet sites in recent days including the Hotmail portal. Among those in the firing line - for publishing news and messages that contrast with the Damascus regime or could be "dangerous" for citizens - is the Saudi daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, which has taken an openly critical stance towards Hezbollah and various states in the region including Syria. Another critical daily, al-Shaffaf, has also had its online version rendered inaccessible.
The hotmail portal was already shut down by the Syrian authorities in 2000 but then rehabilitated four years later. The official motivation for the latest intervention is that "it is not possible to control the email on this site" according to information technology experts following the case in Syria.
London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi, Elaph and scores of sites linked to the Syrian opposition have also been made inaccessible.
And this article:
"MIDDLE EAST: BLOGGERS DIVIDE OVER HEZBOLLAH"
Cairo, 18 July (AKI) - Arab bloggers - as well as Arab states - are divided over their support or censure of Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Chat rooms and forums show mixed reactions on the current fighting in Lebanon and Israel. The 'Electronic Lebanon' website -created by the bloggers behind 'Electronic Intifada, a site on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - is visited by 270,000 people a day and posts reports from the Lebanese.
"My entire life has changed only because someone decided that it could change: Who gave them the right to do that?" complains Zena el-Khalil.
Bilal, another web surfer, supports the cause of Hezbollah while a Lebanese blogger nicknamed Miss Levantine said she had initially thought the conflict would only last a couple of days. "I was convinced that the United Nations and world powers would have stopped the bombings," she writes, blaming the conflict on both the Lebanese guerrilla and Israel.
The author of another blog - 'Beirut Spring' - writes about all the rallies worldwide calling for an immediate ceasefire.
The most popular blogs are the ones posting pictures of Beirut on fire and online diaries like one by Bassel Haddad of Beirut who says "it is incredible to watch al Jazeera and al Arabiya and see the same scenes I can look at from my balcony."
Egyptian activists, some of whom are supporting Hezbollah, are trying to organize a rally in Cairo on Wednesday in front of the Lebanese embassy as a sign of solidarity. Among them is Alaa, a famous blogger who has just been released from jail.
"Overall, though bloggers are divided over their support or condemnation of the Shiite militant group, many are trying to retain their sense of humour despite the crisis.
A blog replicated a commercial of a credit card but posted instead a number of pictures including one of Arab League leader Amr Moussa after an emergency meeting of the League to discuss the Middle Eastern crisis. "Chance to see Arab leadership for the impotent cowards they are: priceless," the blog reads beside the picture. "Some things in life money can't buy, for everything else there is" and then the website cites the name of the credit card.
Another blog suggested "Hezbollah, which is mostly responsible for what is going on, should contribute tomorrow to reconstruction expenses in Lebanon, perhaps by appearing in commercials of some major multination." An image of the guerrilla's flag appears beside this sentence, though the image has been changed and includes the symbol of a sports company and its slogan: "Just do it."
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=CultureAndMedia&loid=8.0.322385969&par=0
Information is the most dangerous thing, that's why the drive-by media makes sure the control it.
Free Speech - Islamic style. :)
Bingo...
The masses are already denied most of the truth in Syria... this is just sealing any leaks.
Same reason why China, Cuba, North Korea, etc.... do this too..
Damascus is already famous for its steel, one day perhaps it can be famous for its glass........
They have computers over there?...must be the only non 7th century advance that's caught on.
There are many options... Im sure the underground word is getting out.
There are no examples here of bloggers being critical of the Hezbos. The closest is one person blamed them and Isreal for the conflict. Really are we going to get duped by the MSM telling us these people are divided over the war when thats not what they are saying.
Probably trying to keep information from leaving the country.
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