Ban on Political Publications and Blocks on Websites
On 20 September 2010, the Information Affairs Authority withdrew
the publication licence of newsletter of two political parties,
namely; the Progressive Democratic Tribune (Al Taqadomi) and the
Islamic Action (Amal), warning that it may take further legal procedures
if they continue to breach the law. The Authority had previously
banned the newsletters of both the Democratic Society and Al Wefaq,
claiming that both had breached the law, which regulates publication
by political parties. It also demanded that political parties address
their problems in line with this law, and announced that it had
permitted the publication of the newsletters following adjustments
made by the said newsletters. A number of political parties’ websites
have also been blocked for the same reason. The Transparency Society
criticised the restrictions made on the freedom of expression of
societies, which are active in the political arena, and demanded
the officials to reconsider their decisions that affect freedom
of expression. Waad Society regarded the decisions as a confiscation
of the different views, and accused the Information Affairs Authority
of being selective in its implementation of the law, something which
the Authority refuted.
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