Top news website blocked in three Arab countries

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 7 January 2016

The blocking of major news websites in three Arab nations raises serious concerns regarding press freedom. The IFJ and affected parties criticize the actions as attacks on democracy.

Summary

BRUSSELS - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), representing 600000 journalists worldwide, has expressed its deep concerns following the blocking of news website al-Araby al-Jadeed and its English counterpart The New Arab, in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt.

Al-Araby al-Jadeed and The New Arab report that they were initially blocked by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture and Media on 22nd December 2015. Then, the UAE also blocked access to the website. Later, Egypt took the same path. The editors of al-Araby al-Jadeed and The New Arab said they received no explanation for these infringements to press freedom.

Abdulrahman Elshayyal, CEO of al-Araby al-Jadeed and The New Arab, said: “The blocking of these websites goes against the company’s principles of supporting democracy, human rights and liberty, as well as the notion of press freedom (…) We are at a loss to identify which, if any, stories may have led to this decision - it is quite possible that our editorial line, which is pro-democracy and pro-freedom of speech, just wasn't to their liking”.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ General Secretary, said: “This is a serious attack on press freedom and an assault on the news organisation's democratic right to report the news and provide its readers with information. The international community must make loud and clear their opposition to the governments of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt.

This heavy-handed censorship must not be allowed to continue." However, despite the ban, it is possible to have access to blocked sources worldwide, via proxy sites for instance. Jim Boumelha, IFJ President, joined the members of al-Araby al-Jadeed and The New Arab by saying: “The blocking of this news website with no proper explanation given for such act is another blow to press freedom in the region.

It is a curb to citizens’ rights to have access to diverse sources of information. That is why we call on governments of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt to immediately lift this ban”. - IFJ

KEY POINTS:

• Al-Araby al-Jadeed and The New Arab were blocked in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt.
• The websites have not received explanations for the censorship.
• IFJ urges governments to lift the bans and respect press freedom.
• The action is seen as an attack on democratic rights and access to information.
• Proxy sites remain a method for accessing the blocked content.