Blocking “Middle East Eye” is a Violation of the Right to Information, the Decision Must be Reversed

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) decried the Emirati authorities’ blocking of the British website Middle East Eye (MEE), concerned with the Middle East affairs, on 29 June 2016, to be added to the list of websites recently banned by the score.

 The MME online news portal announced that UAE residents asserted that the authorities therein have blocked access to the website since Wednesday morning (June 29). Anyone who attempts to access the website in the UAE now receives this official message: “Access to this site is currently blocked. The site falls under the Prohibited Content Categories of the UAE’s Internet Access Management Policy.”

 It’s worth mentioning that Middle East Eye got used to publish reports critical of the human rights situation in Abu Dhabi. In the recent period, it published reports about the relations between the Gulf states and the Israeli occupation.

 According to “#Turn_around_and_Go_back” Internet report issued by ANHRI, UAE ranked 13 among 19 Arab countries on Internet freedom index.

 On last December, the State Security Agency also blocked three websites, including the Arabic-language “NoonPost” and Al-Araby Al-Jadeed”, and in earlier period, the authorities blocked “Emasc”, “UAE 71” and “Arabi 21” in addition to other Arab and international websites affiliated to civil society organizations.

 “In light of the “the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet” resolution issued by United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the first of July 2016, the world reaffirm that having access to the Internet is one of human rights. Upon this resolution, states are banned from intentionally shutting down or disrupting access to the Internet. Therefore, the authorities in UAE have to immediately halt their constant and systematic violation of Internet freedom and their ban of electronic sites”, ANHRI said.