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.
Comments
Balqis wrote:
11/25/06 01:43:57
Someone! wrote:
btw.
Just in case you are not aware of thisl. The Arabic Sabla is shut down and I understand the owner was jailed for three days and the forum is under investigation
11/25/06 05:47:31
newsbriefs wrote:
Also see Transparency: The Need of the Moment at http://muscati.blogspot.com/. Entry for 29th November 2006.
12/01/06 21:17:46
No, she was active in the Arabic Sabla. The English Sabla doesn't give much space to local politics cause they're afraid of consequences.
Not sure sleepless was speaking about her in that post anyway.