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Why is Blogger blocking Saudi Christian’s weblog?
by Scott Gilbreath ~ February 1st, 2009
Saudi Arabian authorities last month arrested Hamoud Bin Saleh and blocked his blog, Saudi Masihi, after he announced his conversion from Islam to Christianity. So, no one using the internet inside Saudi Arabia could view the blog.
Now, however, Blogger.com has blocked his blog, so no one in the world can view it. Anyone trying to surf to Saudi Masihi sees only this.
Saudi Masihi was available two weeks ago when I first viewed it. Google, which owns Blogger.com, provides no information as to what has happened since then to cause the blog to be in violation of Blogger’s Terms of Service. Has Saudi Arabia pressured Google to shut it down?
If you’re concerned about this, a discussion has been initiated at the Blogger Help Group where you can add your (civil) comments.
Compass Direct has a story with a summary of the reasons Mr Bin Saleh gave for believing in Christ.
On his web site, which Saudi authorities have blocked, Bin Saleh wrote that his journey to Christ began after witnessing the public beheading of three Pakistanis convicted of drug charges. Shaken, he began an extensive study of Islamic history and law, as well as Saudi justice. He became disillusioned with sharia (Islamic law) and dismayed that kingdom authorities only prosecuted poor Saudis and foreigners.
[…]
After reading how Jesus forgave – rather than stoned – a woman condemned for adultery, Bin Saleh eventually received Christ as savior.“Jesus . . . took us beyond physical salvation as he offered us forgiveness that is the salvation of eternal life and compassion,” he wrote. “Just look and ask for the light of God; there might be no available books to help you make a comparative study between the teachings of Muhammad (which are in my opinion a series of political, social, economical and human disasters) and the teaching of Jesus in Saudi Arabia, but there are many resources on the Web by which you might get to the bosom/arms of the Father of salvation. Seek salvation and you will reach it; may the Lord keep you from the devil’s pitfalls.”
In August 2008, Fatima Al-Mutairi was brutally murdered by her father, a Saudi religious cop, for writing online about her conversion to Christianity.
h/t: Glenn Penner at Persecuted Church Weblog
UPDATE (7 Feb.): The blog is available again. No explanation has been given as to why Blogger/Google blocked it.
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February 1st, 2009 at 05:06 PM
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February 2nd, 2009 at 07:47 PM
[...] WHY IS BLOGGER blocking Saudi Christian’s weblog? …. [...]
February 3rd, 2009 at 02:48 PM
This is really an unacceptable action from such an international recognized IT company.