Recently the respected website Global Voices ran this story:
Yesterday, May 25, 2007, it has been reported by numerous Moroccan blogger that Morocco has blocked access to YouTube video sharing website. There have been many ongoing speculations that the ban followed the broadcasting of material critical of the country's king and pro-Western Sahara. This is the third major sites blocked by the Moroccan filtering regime after Google Earth and Livejournal.
However, it turns out not to be true.
Technical research has shown that the problem started in Pakistan where the authorities decided to block YouTube by creating a false path - a Cul de sac - that would divert potential visitors. The block was intended to cover only Pakistan but extended to about two-thirds of the global Internet population.
The outage followed a letter sent Friday evening by the Pakistani Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to Internet service providers, ordering them to prevent people in Pakistan from visiting YouTube. The authority cited a "highly blasphemous" video featuring right-wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders.
Pakistan Telecom established a route that directed requests for YouTube videos from local Internet subscribers to the cul de sac and then published that route to its international data carrier, PCCW of Hong Kong, which accepted the new route. From there it spread quickly to other systems.
OTHER REACTIONS FROM THE BLOGOMA
A very good post by one of our favourite bloggers EATBEES takes up the case of Fouad Mourtada, the blooger jailed over identity theft. There is an old saying "you don't need an axe to break an egg" - it seems very true in this instance. Here is some of what EATBEES had to say,
Sadly, the world doesn’t stand still for bloggers, or follow our idealistic wishes. While I’ve been comfortably going about my business these past couple of weeks, sitting in my favorite cafe, watching animes or chatting with friends online, 26-year-old Fouad Mourtada has been in a Moroccan jail because he created a page on Facebook in the name of Prince Rachid, the younger brother of the Moroccan king.
His case provoked an outcry across the Moroccan blogosphere, because of the feeling that if such a thing could happen to Fouad — a mild-mannered IT engineer who has always been a model citizen — then it could happen to anyone. Yet the outcry didn’t sway the Moroccan injustice system. On February 22, Fouad was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of about $1300. This despite the fact that his foolish gesture harmed no one, and had no malicious intent.
Read the full story here: EATBEES
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
4 comments:
I also emailed easyjet, last week, and recieved a totally different reply, implying that they would be flying to Fez from March, and would continue to do so during the summer season only.
I would understand the censoring and blocking of pornographic sites - ONLY. As for the rest of what is on the Net, it makes no sense at all.
It would be helpful and best if Middle Eastern and Islamic countries, would educate its people on how best to utilize and benefit from the Internet; rather than senselessly blocking sites for some silly political reasons.
id like to know if its possible fly from london to fez, I feel that the stop by BA and Raynair its not so good :)
strange, prices went to the top in 1 year (riads,dars etc) and now that everybody was talking about Fez as the New Marrakech, no more flights..... :(
I think it was not a bright move and it I ask to my self why: if prices and interest of new buyer was growing why there are no more flights?
any comment on this dear friends??
luca
False. It has since been confirmed that YouTube was blocked, intentionally, for a period of three days or so. Access for several days after that was intermittent.
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