Saudi Arabia Censors Gay Website
Gay.com
U.K., June 20, 2003
The Government of Saudi Arabia, one of the most
oppressive regimes in the Middle East despite receiving US and UK backing, has
forbidden its subjects from accessing the only gay Arab news and information
site on the Internet.
This draconian measure, by the Internet Services Unit,
only affects those computers inside Saudi Arabia.
Users who attempt to access gaymiddleeast.com
from within the Kingdom have said that instead of accessing the site a message
is posted on the screen stating ‘Access to the requested URL is not
allowed!’
GME have issued a statement saying that attempts to
contact the ISU have not been successful and that they have yet to receive a
reply from them.
The statement said: “The management and writers of GME
feel that this move on the part of Saudi Arabia’s authorities is a violation
of the right of free speech.”
GME is affiliated to Canadian based website 365Gay.com,
carrying their newsfeeds. The site contains no pornographic material, as its
purpose is to provide local news coverage within the Arab community and to
offer travel information.
The owners of GME believe that the Saudi government’s
actions are in violation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.
The statement concluded by calling on the Government, in
the most respectful yet strongest terms to unblock access to the GME site.
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