Gulf Daily News – 16 August 2006
By TARIQ KHONJI
THREE free web-based services were back online again yesterday. But the mystery surrounding earlier disappearances of Google Earth, Google Maps and Google Videos went unexplained yet again.
The online services were not accessible on Monday, with online satellite imaging service Google Earth having been offline for several days.
Several officials at the Information Ministry have been contacted regarding the issue, but none have agreed to speak on the record.
A Batelco spokesman again maintained that the company was not responsible for such decisions yesterday.
Gulf Daily News – 16 August 2006
By TARIQ KHONJITHREE free web-based services were back online again yesterday. But the mystery surrounding earlier disappearances of Google Earth, Google Maps and Google Videos went unexplained yet again.
The online services were not accessible on Monday, with online satellite imaging service Google Earth having been offline for several days.
Several officials at the Information Ministry have been contacted regarding the issue, but none have agreed to speak on the record.
A Batelco spokesman again maintained that the company was not responsible for such decisions yesterday.
He said earlier that the company would not block any web service unless it had been ordered to do so by the Information Ministry.
Meanwhile, Batelco’s Internet helpline said yesterday that the company had not blocked Google Earth and blamed problems with the service on Google.
A Google spokeswoman based in the UK said she was seeking more information on alleged blocking of their services.
Controversy over alleged blocking of the services has prompted criticisms from users and human rights activists.
Former vice-president of the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) Nabeel Rajab said the government was also responsible for blocking sites with political content.
They include Bahrain Online (bahrainonline.org), Montadayat Al Bahrain (montadayat.org), Bahrain National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture (shaheedbh.com), Sarah Al Wattani (wattani.net), Ahrar Al Bahrain (ahraralbahrain.com), Bahrain Times (bahraintimes.org), Al Saheefa (al saheefa.net) and Tubli.net.
When users try to access the above sites in Bahrain, they are told the site is either “forbidden” or that the page cannot be displayed.
“The BCHR calls upon the relevant government authorities to unblock the aforementioned websites immediately and urges civil society and the media to continue applying pressure and shedding light on the issue until this happens,” said Mr Rajab.