Global Arab Network | Syrian Internet Users - Call to Unblock Facebook

Translate this article to your language:

GANPublications

e-Publications

Add Site to Favorites

Add Page to Favorites

Make Homepage

Share This Page

RSS Feed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |

Syrian Internet Users - Call to Unblock Facebook

Thursday, 06 May 2010 11:18

Syrian internet users are increasing efforts to put pressure on the government to allow access to the popular social internet utility Facebook.

In February, a group, initiated by a user who identified himself as a Damascus University student, has been calling on authorities to lift the ban on the website.

The group has gathered around 3,800 members but hopes to reach the symbolic figure of 100,000 petitioners in favour of Facebook.

Although Facebook has been officially blocked in Syria since November 2007, many Syrians use proxy servers to access the website.

Buthaina Shaaban, the political and media adviser of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, justified the ban by referring to “security reasons” in a declaration to the press in April 2009. She said that Israeli internet users were trying to contact Syrians via Facebook.

Shaaban is believed to have her own page on Facebook. Its authenticity could not be verified.

The administrator of the new Facebook group called on all members to keep the discussions away from politics.

From discussions on the page, it was clear that opinions on the ban varied. One member defended it, saying that “the government knows our interests best” and added that Facebook was under the control of the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service.

Others said that they did not feel the initiative would bring about a change in the government’s decision.

One member commented sarcastically that if the number of members continued to increase, the authorities would arrest them for gathering illegally.

Under the penal code, any individual who participates in a gathering of seven or more people to protest against a decision or a measure by the authorities can be punished with up to a year in jail.

Also, the emergency law, which has been in effect since 1963 when the Baath party took power, has made it even more difficult for people to demonstrate. (By IWPR Syria publication)

Global Arab Network

Add comment

The opinions of the authors in articles published are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Arab Network
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published comments are the opinions of private individuals and do not reflect the views of Global Arab Network