——————————————————————————–
UN treaties ‘breached’
By Geoffrey Bew
Published: 4th February 2009
BAHRAIN may have breached United Nations treaties on human rights, by blocking access to certain political websites and Internet discussion forums.
The decision appears to defy the Universal Declaration of Human Rights conventions and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the country has signed up to, according to Bahrain Transparency Society (BTS) president Abdulnabi Al Ekri.
——————————————————————————–
UN treaties ‘breached’
By Geoffrey Bew
Published: 4th February 2009
BAHRAIN may have breached United Nations treaties on human rights, by blocking access to certain political websites and Internet discussion forums.
The decision appears to defy the Universal Declaration of Human Rights conventions and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the country has signed up to, according to Bahrain Transparency Society (BTS) president Abdulnabi Al Ekri.
Hundreds of websites were blocked last month, following what the government called a crackdown on pornography.
However, activists claim political sites, public discussion forums, human rights, news and advertisement sites and religious and non-religious groups were included in the clamp.
Mr Al Ekri said the crackdown on non-sexual websites, apparently instigated by the Culture and Information Ministry, also breached Bahrain’s Penal Code.
“We welcome the blocking of websites that promote pornography and prostitution and those guilty of inciting hatred, but the ban also applied to political and opinion websites,” he told the GDN.
“This is what is worrying. It deprives the public of access to information.”
Mr Al Ekri said the BTS had written a letter to the Culture and Information Ministry expressing its concern at the move.
“We are worried that this was not done by a court order but by a ministerial order,” he said.
“It is up to the defendants (legitimate websites) affected by the ban to take legal action against the ministry.”
Culture and Information Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa issued a ministerial decree on January 14 informing all telecommunications companies and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to prevent access to pornographic and unauthorised websites banned by the ministry.
However, president of the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) Nabeel Rajab and others later claimed the order went much further and the ban included a number of opposition websites.
People trying to reach blocked sites are now directed to a page informing them that the website is banned by a ministerial order from the Culture and Information Ministry.
A ministry official earlier confirmed the crackdown on pornographic sites, but would not comment on whether other sites had been banned. geoff@gdn.com.bh
——————————————————————————–
© Gulf Daily News
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=242046&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=31321
