Online forum administrator sentenced to prison in the UAE
Only days after we hear about this unfortunate incident, this one takes place, and needless to say it’s much worse:
Earlier this month, on August 8th, Mohamed Rashed al-Shohhi, an online forum administrator in the Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah (UAE) has been sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of nearly US$ 13,600 (Dh50,000) for content deemed defamatory published by anonymous on the popular forum board he moderated majan.net (suspended).
It has also been reported that the department of e-government services managed to access the forum’s control panel looking for registrants email addresses. And it seems that this has led to the arrest, on August 19th, of a forum registrant, Khaled El Asli.
This isn’t fair or just at all, he shouldn’t be held directly responsible for what gets published on the forum. His only responsibility is removing the comment, which I’m sure he would agreed to get done.
What if one of the authors here post libelous material without my knowledge, does it mean I would have to go through such charges as well?
Crazy.
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Dear Esra:
I excused you and anyone who suffered of my post in an email and in that post comment!
I dont know what should say in this world of dead freedom of specch!
And now you can do anything! I give promission to you to do anything: edit my post, delet it and delet my whole account! I dont really want you or anyone to be in trouble!
regards,
Hi Lord, no way, we won’t do that! It is one of our moderation rules not to edit posts; in extreme cases we draft them until the author finds the time to edit it him/herself so that we don’t put words in their mouths.
I enjoy reading your thoughts, I think the questions you raise are very valid, but we definitely must consider our region. It’s not completely free, and we must take little steps in debating instead of completely denouncing things like the Quran or Islam. I know that it’s very tempting to do that, but remember, this is what landed our friend Kareem in prison, and this is what could land us in prison as well if we continue.
We welcome you to this site and we look forward to reading your future thoughts and articles, however it’s best to focus on things like philosophy and religion in the general sense as well.. you are more than welcome to question Islam but that has to be done responsibly and considerably, I think people like Fariborz took it very far with the bashing hence why we are worried for the site’s credibility.
Fariborz thinks we are doing this to try and restrict his freedom of speech, but really we are worried about our future and the future of this network. It would be horrible to be imprisoned, tied in a legal issue or even to have this site be permanently suspended due to the articles of one person. It’s not worth it at all.
Dear Esra:
Because I know these all, I changed the title and to some extent the content of post!
If you as the administrator think that still is offensive please inform me. dont hesitate! I’m not who that you should be ashamed; so tell me! cuz we are just friends!
I’m not those ones (Believers or non-believers) who stuck their idealogy, and I change eveytime. therefore it dosent botter me whatever you say to do!
regards,
Esra,
I think you should read it one more time as it really changed
I thank god for the suffering
Hi Lord, thanks a lot for being so understanding. The other members here, instead of apologizing for this mistake like you kindly have, decided to call this site a “dictatorship” without realizing the dangers they are putting us in.
I don’t think your posts are offensive. It is indeed the comments, which are done by our own authors:
I am very impressed by your mature approach and by the responsibility you have taken in editing your post in order to protect this place.
We are happy to have someone like you on board! Thanks.
Thanks for your kind comment, but the more I think the more I understand my fault of insulting in a cooprative! I omitted some more! I’m not forced with anyone! It was my belief!
so read one more time!
thanx
It’s crazy if they took administrators responsible for everything!
It implies self-censorship through spreading fear.
I can’t tell you what to do but I am sure as you said, it doesn’t worth it! so it doesn’t worth it!
I try my best not to write about religion as much as possible! but can you do me favor? Please add to the website: It’s very normal in this region for a site administrator to be held entirely responsible for all the posts published here, that puts me and my colleagues at great risk. So please take into consideration when you want to write about controversial subjects.
Then everybody would understand what’s right to write and vice versa!