A blogger posts about freedom
Two sources today have led me to a post by Sleepless in Muscat at Arabia Calling.
The post is entitled 'Freedom? What Freedom?'.
It relates how an Omani woman was taken in for questioning and made to sign a declaration that 'she had violated 'national security' over her remarks, and that she would not return to her previous action.'
Would this have been Taiba Al Mawali? Her case was described in detail in the Khaleej Times of 28th May 2006, where she was described as a fervent Islamist who had been a member of the Majlis ash'Shura from 1994 to 2000.
She had turned from political representation to contributing to an online discussion forum called Sablah. I don't know whether this was English Sablah , or another forum.
'Mawali claims the Omani authorities have changed “many things” in the teaching of Islam “in the cause of the Americans”.'
She was taken into custody and questioned for three days about her online contributions, and allegedly asked to sign a document of unstated significance. She claimed that because she refused to sign, she was given a six-month prison sentence.
Well that's not very encouraging but at least she didn't disappear for ever. However, she believes that she is watched permanently (highly probable) and spends her time evading the authorities.
By the way, don't believe that we're 'free' in UK. There are more CCTV cameras watching us Brits per head of population than anywhere else in the world.
Added 27th November 2006: Global Voices Online reported last Saturday's post by Muscati about Oman Sabla, the Arabic version. It has indeed been closed.
The post is entitled 'Freedom? What Freedom?'.
It relates how an Omani woman was taken in for questioning and made to sign a declaration that 'she had violated 'national security' over her remarks, and that she would not return to her previous action.'
Would this have been Taiba Al Mawali? Her case was described in detail in the Khaleej Times of 28th May 2006, where she was described as a fervent Islamist who had been a member of the Majlis ash'Shura from 1994 to 2000.
She had turned from political representation to contributing to an online discussion forum called Sablah. I don't know whether this was English Sablah , or another forum.
'Mawali claims the Omani authorities have changed “many things” in the teaching of Islam “in the cause of the Americans”.'
She was taken into custody and questioned for three days about her online contributions, and allegedly asked to sign a document of unstated significance. She claimed that because she refused to sign, she was given a six-month prison sentence.
Well that's not very encouraging but at least she didn't disappear for ever. However, she believes that she is watched permanently (highly probable) and spends her time evading the authorities.
By the way, don't believe that we're 'free' in UK. There are more CCTV cameras watching us Brits per head of population than anywhere else in the world.
Added 27th November 2006: Global Voices Online reported last Saturday's post by Muscati about Oman Sabla, the Arabic version. It has indeed been closed.
Salim and Salimah in Arabic - Oman road safety initiative
I wrote about the launch of Salim and Salimah - safe and sound back in March this year.
The Project Director has written to me to tell me that the Arabic version of the website was launched last Sunday. I quote the press release in full here.
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An Arabic version of Oman's first dedicated road safety website has been launched to mark the 2006 Global Remembrance Day for Road Crash victims last Sunday 20th November. This multimedia website, developed by non-profit organisation, Al Mustadaama (Sustainability) as part of its child restraint advocacy campaign Salim and Salimah, Safe and Sound, aims to reduce the toll of death and injury in road crashes by educating drivers on the risks of travelling with unsecured passengers.
Twenty percent of all child deaths in Oman result from car crashes. In 2005, 122 children less than 15 years died in crashes out of a total of 689 dead. 6658 people, including 968 under 15s, were injured, many disabled for life. This unacceptable toll of child deaths, from a total population of only 2.4 million, is 20% higher than 2004 (itself registered a 50% increase over 2003). At the end of 2005, Oman’s road traffic mortality was 28 per 100,000 population, far in excess of the global average of 19. These spiralling figures represent untold pain and suffering for the innocent victims and their families and impose a heavy burden on the health sector impacting upon society as a whole.
As 98% or more road crashes are entirely preventable, caused by negligence, these are lives unnecessarily and painfully squandered particularly as more than 7 in 10 of passengers could be saved by the use of a properly-fitted child safety seat for children and seatbelt for adults.
Visitors to the interactive site can access the latest road crash facts and statistics, GCC research, multi-media clips on how to keep children safe in cars and personal stories as well as download free educational materials. The site also profiles the high-impact, campaign film "Doesn't your child deserve a safe ride?" which highlights graphically, and in appropriate cultural idiom, typical crash scenarios, the dynamics of crashes and the often fatal consequences for unsecured children. The film is currently being distributed free of charge for screening in schools, colleges, mosques, clubs and women’s organisations.
The campaign, conceived and developed by 100% Omani-owned company, Al Mustadaama, in both English and Arabic and in a cultural idiom suited to Oman and Arabian Gulf societies, brings together a coalition of stakeholders including Petroleum Development Oman, the Oman Ministry of Education, Mothercare and the Occupational Driver Training Institute. Each partner contributed specific expertise and/or funded a campaign goal.
Internationally, the campaign has been recognised by the World Health Organisation, the lead agency in the battle to reduce the escalating toll of road crash death and injury worldwide. It is has also been accepted as signatory to the European Commission’s Road Safety Charter on the basis of its universal applicability and linked to the UN Economic Commission for Europe’s road transport site as well as road safety NGOs in Africa, India and the USA.
The intention of the Arabic website is to serve as a permanent, free resource and tool for educators delivering the critical safety messages to Arabic speakers in the Middle East and North Africa region as well as large Arabic-speaking communities in Europe, Australia and the USA.
For more information, please contact the Project Director.
The Project Director has written to me to tell me that the Arabic version of the website was launched last Sunday. I quote the press release in full here.
-----------------------
An Arabic version of Oman's first dedicated road safety website has been launched to mark the 2006 Global Remembrance Day for Road Crash victims last Sunday 20th November. This multimedia website, developed by non-profit organisation, Al Mustadaama (Sustainability) as part of its child restraint advocacy campaign Salim and Salimah, Safe and Sound, aims to reduce the toll of death and injury in road crashes by educating drivers on the risks of travelling with unsecured passengers.
Twenty percent of all child deaths in Oman result from car crashes. In 2005, 122 children less than 15 years died in crashes out of a total of 689 dead. 6658 people, including 968 under 15s, were injured, many disabled for life. This unacceptable toll of child deaths, from a total population of only 2.4 million, is 20% higher than 2004 (itself registered a 50% increase over 2003). At the end of 2005, Oman’s road traffic mortality was 28 per 100,000 population, far in excess of the global average of 19. These spiralling figures represent untold pain and suffering for the innocent victims and their families and impose a heavy burden on the health sector impacting upon society as a whole.
As 98% or more road crashes are entirely preventable, caused by negligence, these are lives unnecessarily and painfully squandered particularly as more than 7 in 10 of passengers could be saved by the use of a properly-fitted child safety seat for children and seatbelt for adults.
Visitors to the interactive site can access the latest road crash facts and statistics, GCC research, multi-media clips on how to keep children safe in cars and personal stories as well as download free educational materials. The site also profiles the high-impact, campaign film "Doesn't your child deserve a safe ride?" which highlights graphically, and in appropriate cultural idiom, typical crash scenarios, the dynamics of crashes and the often fatal consequences for unsecured children. The film is currently being distributed free of charge for screening in schools, colleges, mosques, clubs and women’s organisations.
The campaign, conceived and developed by 100% Omani-owned company, Al Mustadaama, in both English and Arabic and in a cultural idiom suited to Oman and Arabian Gulf societies, brings together a coalition of stakeholders including Petroleum Development Oman, the Oman Ministry of Education, Mothercare and the Occupational Driver Training Institute. Each partner contributed specific expertise and/or funded a campaign goal.
Internationally, the campaign has been recognised by the World Health Organisation, the lead agency in the battle to reduce the escalating toll of road crash death and injury worldwide. It is has also been accepted as signatory to the European Commission’s Road Safety Charter on the basis of its universal applicability and linked to the UN Economic Commission for Europe’s road transport site as well as road safety NGOs in Africa, India and the USA.
The intention of the Arabic website is to serve as a permanent, free resource and tool for educators delivering the critical safety messages to Arabic speakers in the Middle East and North Africa region as well as large Arabic-speaking communities in Europe, Australia and the USA.
For more information, please contact the Project Director.