Middle East Politics.Net » Censorship http://middleeastpolitics.net Facts, News, Trends, Analysis Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Girls Form Popular Underground Rock Band in Saudi Arabia http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/30/4-girls-form-popular-underground-rock-band-in-saudi-arabia/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/30/4-girls-form-popular-underground-rock-band-in-saudi-arabia/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:15:29 +0000 Holly MacGillivray http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3133 With the strong rules and regulations put forth by the religious community of their conservative country, a group of four girls in Saudi Arabia have found means of expressing themselves, even if they can’t do it in public. Dina (Guitar), her sister Dareen (Bass), Lamia (Singer) and Amjad (Keyboard), have formed the underground rock band, The Accolade. The band has to practice in secret locations, cannot shoot album cover pictures or get any sort of recognition for the musical talent they display, but they still love to make music. They record and put music up for download online and through their MySpace page. They believe that with a majority of Saudi Arabia’s population being under 25, some of the laws restricting the actions of women in the Kingdom will change in the future. Their religious upbringing is apparent as you can see a sense of self-censorship where they do not talk of drugs, smoking or drinking in their music. For now the band plans to continue to play underground and hopes to one day record an album, far away from their home nation and the censorship it imposes on them.

Holly MacGillivray

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/30/4-girls-form-popular-underground-rock-band-in-saudi-arabia/feed/ 0 Censoring Again http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/censoring-again/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/censoring-again/#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:37:31 +0000 cicek http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1918 Recently the Turkish Government decided to shut down eleven television channels, which coincidentally all belong to Dogan Media Corporation. The Supreme Board of Media and Television (RTUK ) has stated the reason as “failing to acquire the necessary broadcasting licenses.”

According to the Turkish Daily News (TDN), Saban Sevinc, a member of RTUK, who opposed this decision said that the requests for licensing had been ignored, and that the president of RTUK, Zahit Akman ”deliberately left the applications pending so that he could have leverage over the channel’s owner.”

When such serious allegations are made and media censorship has hit the roof, one wonders the future of freedom in a country bearing these problems. That being said, Sevinc also brings forth the issue of corruption that has yet to be silenced. All in all what I am curious about is not the future of freedom, but the future of Sevinc. I wonder how long it will take for the govenment to censor him.

Aylin Cicek

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/censoring-again/feed/ 0 Blogger Banned in Turkey http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/28/blogger-banned-in-turkey/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/28/blogger-banned-in-turkey/#comments Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:09:38 +0000 cicek http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1780 On Friday, October 24 2008, many were surprised because they could not access the popular Google-powered, blogging portal, Blogger. They came across the same phrase that they found when You Tube was banned about six months ago: “Access to this site has been banned by court order.”

As a Turkish citizen and blogger, I have many problems with this unnecessary censorship, but before I start to complain, let’s decrypt the situation starting with why Blogger has been banned. The first speculation was that Adnan Okyar, a Muslim creationist, had something to do with it. However, it was later understood to be infringement of a subscription-based TV platform, DigiTurk. Apparently some bloggers decided to broadcast without permission. Yes, piracy, indeed is a terrible thing, but should many pay for the stupidity of few? Especially if this is a country which defines itself as democratic?

There are a few aspects of this situation that I would like to touch upon. Number one: Banning Blogger or You Tube is a violation of rights. Number Two: It is unnecessary censorship. Number Three: Looking at the situation through an international lens, how would other countries view these ongoing bans? It is clear that Turkey’s ties with actors in the international arena are not strong. Especially in the ongoing situation with the European Union, and the accession process that seems to take centuries rather than decades. (I am not going to elaborate on this subject!) Number Four: The Minister of Transportation issued a press release saying that in order to prevent people from being hurt by the Internet, they have to be careful. It does not take one of incredible intelligence to ask the relevance of this AKP supporter man, who probably does not know what a blogger is. Number Five: A few students decided to protest this decision in Istanbul and were silenced by force. This shows the insecurity of the AKP regarding freedom of speech.

Many, including myself, are furious with this ban. This unnecessary censorship is not the first to occur and I am sure will not be the last. In conclusion, people of Turkey need to realise that their freedom is at stake. Hopefully, they will before it is too late. It starts with little things gradually building up to the loss of freedom and democracy. I think Turkey is not democratic. This is not how a secular republic should act!

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/28/blogger-banned-in-turkey/feed/ 0 Saudi Government Censors Drive Piracy http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/23/saudi-government-sensors-driving-large-amounts-of-piracy/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/23/saudi-government-sensors-driving-large-amounts-of-piracy/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:18:45 +0000 Holly MacGillivray http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1674 Saudi Arabia has high levels of censorship of music, video and media content that is causing people across the kingdom to turn to piracy as means of getting their merchandise. Because the censors take so long to get things approved, citizens of Saudi Arabia choose to get their music, movies and games faster and cheaper through pirated sources. Censors can delay up books, DVDs and musical products up to three months before they are allowed to be sold in stores, and many people don’t want to wait that long. Usually the end product sold on the shelves has been cut up in order to fit the government’s censorship requirements. Because of the censorship system, piracy in the kingdom has increased dramatically and will probably continue to stay at high levels until the system’s timeliness is improved.

Holly MacGillivray

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