Here in Oman, we boast about the right to freedom of speech that is given to us by Royal Decree of which was issued by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said - the Sultan of Oman. And in many other different Arab countries - including GCC neighbors - we also hear about how people are always given the right to say what is on their minds in order to lessen the gap between the public and their respective governments.
But how far is this statement true?
Not too long ago, there was an Omani woman who was arrested for no known reason other than having 'suggested' ways to improve the ways of living in our communities and what was officially dubbed 'her opinion' in the development process the government of His Majesty was following. She was taken in and interrogated for quite a while. And after that was done and over with she was presented with a slip asking her to sign on a note that she had violated 'national security' over her remarks, and that she should would not return to her previous action that lead to that case.
In other countries, we hear of several people for just speaking their minds. And seriously, if you don't want to develop the country don't go about saying that 'we listen to people's opinion very seriously and take it to consideration'. Because, clearly that is not the case.
Bloggers are no exception in this topic. Several fellow bloggers have been arrested for criticizing the ways of life in their respective countries. In Saudi Arabia, in Egypt, in Turkey, in Bahrain, and even in the United Arab Emirates.
Bloggers are considered the 'unofficial reporters' of the world because of the raw perception that they see through the incidents and happenings that are occuring in their countries and regions. And if that is taken away then all we'll ever have is government controlled media which is just about as truthful as a dirty toilet seat.
Don't take away our right to freedom.
You want to reason with us; make a debate about it and we'll both come to a solution. Because in the end, it's my country, too.
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Links:
- Egypt arrests another blog critic
- Saudi Arabia's bold young bloggers
Monday, November 20, 2006
freedom? what freedom?
Posted by Sleepless In Muscat at 23:54
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4 comments:
Because in the end, it's my country, too.
*applaud*
If you check the Observer today, the Min of Info says the press is free so there is no problem in Oman :p
On a serious note, we're much better than ksa or others
The national security clause is a trick, enough they make fall what you write under that and they catch you
Do you have the text of H.M. decree ?
Thx
Balqis:
no offence to any government officials or to the government itself; but how far can you believe their words when they used to state that they had no political prisoners when they obviously had some rotting away in their jail cells?
that's just an example
politics will always be politics..
There is always a better way to say stuff..
just choose the right words to say..
G
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