Censorship in South Asia: Difference between revisions
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Several books of Bangladeshi writer [[Taslima Nasrin]] have been banned in [[Bangladesh]] and [[West Bengal]] [http://taslimanasrin.com/tn_bannedbooks.html]. |
Several books of Bangladeshi writer [[Taslima Nasrin]] have been banned in [[Bangladesh]] and [[West Bengal]] [http://taslimanasrin.com/tn_bannedbooks.html]. |
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In June 2006, the government of Bangladesh issued a restraining order preventing [[Sigma Huda]], U.N. special [[rapporteur]] on [[Trafficking in human beings|trafficking in persons]], from leaving the country to deliver a key report on trafficking before the [[Human Rights Council]] in Geneva on June 11, 2007. [http://newsblaze.com/story/20070608095430leon.nb/topstory.html] U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights [[Louise Arbour]] has asked Bangladesh to clarify corruption charges against a U.N. human rights investigator, which will prevent her from addressing the main U.N. rights body. |
In June 2006, the government of Bangladesh issued a restraining order preventing [[Sigma Huda]], U.N. special [[rapporteur]] on [[Trafficking in human beings|trafficking in persons]], from leaving the country to deliver a key report on trafficking before the [[Human Rights Council]] in Geneva on June 11, 2007.<ref name=SigmaHuda>[http://newsblaze.com/story/20070608095430leon.nb/topstory.html "Details on Sigma Huda"], Janice Raymond, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women International, in News Blaze, 8 June 2007</ref> U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights [[Louise Arbour]] has asked Bangladesh to clarify corruption charges against a U.N. human rights investigator, which will prevent her from addressing the main U.N. rights body.<ref>[http://in.reuters.com/article/2007/06/07/bangladesh-un-rights-idINL0782673720070607 "UN rights boss asks Bangladesh about graft charges", Reuters, 7 June 2007]</ref> The [[Coalition Against Trafficking in Women]] issued a statement calling this "an outrage and a violation of her right to freedom of movement and freedom of speech".<ref name=SigmaHuda/> |
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=== India === |
=== India === |
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{{main|Censorship in India}} |
{{main|Censorship in India |Internet censorship in India}} |
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Several books critical of religion have been banned in India or in parts of India as a precautionary measure to prevent riots or other form of violence. India was the second country in the world to ban ''[[The Satanic Verses]]'' by [[Salman Rushdie]]. The book ''[[Understanding Islam through Hadis]]'' by [[Ram Swarup]] was also banned. |
Several books critical of religion have been banned in [[India]] or in parts of India as a precautionary measure to prevent riots or other form of violence. India was the second country in the world to ban ''[[The Satanic Verses]]'' by [[Salman Rushdie]]. The book ''[[Understanding Islam through Hadis]]'' by [[Ram Swarup]] was also banned. |
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India is listed as engaged in selective [[Internet filtering]] in the conflict/security and Internet tools areas and no evidence of filtering was found in the political and social areas by the [[OpenNet Initiative]] (ONI) in May 2007.<ref name=ONICountryProfiles-India/> ONI states that: |
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As a stable democracy with strong protections for press freedom, India’s experiments with Internet filtering have been brought into the fold of public discourse. The selective censorship of Web sites and blogs since 2003, made even more disjointed by the non-uniform responses of Internet service providers (ISPs), has inspired a clamor of opposition. Clearly government regulation and implementation of filtering are still evolving. … Amidst widespread speculation in the media and blogosphere about the state of filtering in India, the sites actually blocked indicate that while the filtering system in place yields inconsistent results, it nevertheless continues to be aligned with and driven by government efforts. Government attempts at filtering have not been entirely effective, as blocked content has quickly migrated to other Web sites and users have found ways to circumvent filtering. The government has also been criticized for a poor understanding of the technical feasibility of censorship and for haphazardly choosing which Web sites to block. The amended IT Act, absolving intermediaries from being responsible for third-party created content, could signal stronger government monitoring in the future.<ref name=ONICountryProfiles-India>[http://opennet.net/research/profiles/india "ONI Country Profile: India"], OpenNet Initiative, 9 May 2007</ref> |
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</blockquote> |
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=== Pakistan === |
=== Pakistan === |
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{{main|Censorship in Pakistan}} |
{{main |Censorship in Pakistan |Internet censorship in Pakistan}} |
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The [[OpenNet Initiative]] listed [[Internet filtering]] in [[Pakistan]] as substantial in the social and conflict/security areas, as selective in the Internet tools area, and as suspected in the political area in December 2010.<ref name=ONI-Pakistan/> |
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In late 2010 Pakistanis enjoyed unimpeded access to most sexual, political, social, and religious content on the Internet. Although the Pakistani government does not employ a sophisticated blocking system, a limitation which has led to collateral blocks on entire domains such as Blogspot.com and YouTube.com, it continues to block Web sites containing content it considers to be blasphemous, anti-Islamic, or threatening to internal security. Pakistan has blocked access to websites critical of the government.<ref name=ONI-Pakistan>[http://opennet.net/research/profiles/pakistan "ONI Country Profile: Pakistan"], OpenNet Initiative, 26 December 2010</ref> |
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In early March 2006, the government temporarily had all websites hosted at the popular blogging service [[Blogger.com]] [http://www.dawn.com.pk/2006/03/03/nat1.htm blocked]. Millions of websites from all over the world are hosted at blogspot, along with thousands of Pakistani ones. This step by the government is possibly due to the [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy]], as some blogspot websites put up copies of the cartoons. |
In early March 2006, the government temporarily had all websites hosted at the popular blogging service [[Blogger.com]] [http://www.dawn.com.pk/2006/03/03/nat1.htm blocked]. Millions of websites from all over the world are hosted at blogspot, along with thousands of Pakistani ones. This step by the government is possibly due to the [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy]], as some blogspot websites put up copies of the cartoons. |
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{{See|Internet censorship in Pakistan}} |
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=== Sri Lanka === |
=== Sri Lanka === |
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[[Sri Lanka]] is listed as a country "under surveillance" by [[Reporters Without Borders]] in 2011.<ref name=RWBEnemies>[http://en.rsf.org/surveillance-sri-lanka,39720.html "Countries Under Survanence: Sri Lanka"], Reporters Without Borders, March 2011</ref> |
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Sri Lanka has blocked [[Tamilnet]] as it is seen as a Pro-LTTE news website. Further the government spokesman has said that he is looking to hire hackers to disable [[Tamilnet]]. Tamilnet has been producing news about the Sri Lankan civil war focusing in the North and the East of the country.<ref name=ex1>{{cite web |
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Several political and news websites, including tamilnet.com and lankanewsweb.com have been blocked within the country.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6221844.stm "Popular Tamil website 'blocked'"], ''BBC News'', 20 June 2007</ref> [[Tamilnet]] has been producing news about the [[Sri Lankan civil war]], focusing in the north and the east of the country, and is seen by the government as a [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|Pro-LTTE]] news website. A government spokesman has said that he is looking to hire hackers to disable Tamilnet. |
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| title =Popular Tamil website 'blocked' |
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| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6221844.stm |
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| accessdate = 2007-06-21 | work=BBC News | date=2007-06-20}}. |
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</ref> |
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<ref name=ex2>{{cite web |
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| title =Sri Lanka seeks hackers to down pro-Tiger website |
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| url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070620/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunrestinternetmediacensorship_070620095034 |
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| accessdate = 2007-06-21 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}. |
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</ref> |
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<ref name=ex3>{{cite web |
<ref name=ex3>{{cite web |
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| title =Sri Lanka seeks hackers to down pro-Tiger website |
| title =Sri Lanka seeks hackers to down pro-Tiger website |
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| publisher=Agence France-Presse (AFP) |
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| url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/20/asia/AS-GEN-Sri-Lanka-Media-Freedom.php |
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| url=http://www.slcricket.com/mother-lanka/10470-sri-lanka-seeks-hackers-down-pro-tiger-website.html |
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| date =20 June 2007 |
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The Sri Lanka courts have ordered hundreds of adult sites blocked to "protect women and children".<ref>[http://www.thecolombotimes.com/component/content/article/6625-sri-lanka-court-blocks-porn-websites "Sri Lanka court blocks porn websites"], ''The Colombo Times'', 25 July 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10B/Aug26_1282830418CH.php "Sri Lanka bans over 100 porn websites featuring locals"], ''ColomboPage: Sri Lanka Internet Newspaper'', 26 August 2010</ref> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Revision as of 01:47, 14 June 2011
| Part of a series on |
| Censorship by country |
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| Countries |
| See also |
Censorship in South Asia can apply to books, movies, the Internet and other media. Censorship occurs on religious, moral and political grounds, which is controversial in itself as the latter especially is seen as contrary to the tenets of democracy, in terms of freedom of speech and the right to freely criticise the government.
Censorship by country
Bangladesh
Several books of Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin have been banned in Bangladesh and West Bengal [1].
In June 2006, the government of Bangladesh issued a restraining order preventing Sigma Huda, U.N. special rapporteur on trafficking in persons, from leaving the country to deliver a key report on trafficking before the Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 11, 2007.[1] U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has asked Bangladesh to clarify corruption charges against a U.N. human rights investigator, which will prevent her from addressing the main U.N. rights body.[2] The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women issued a statement calling this "an outrage and a violation of her right to freedom of movement and freedom of speech".[1]
India
Several books critical of religion have been banned in India or in parts of India as a precautionary measure to prevent riots or other form of violence. India was the second country in the world to ban The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. The book Understanding Islam through Hadis by Ram Swarup was also banned.
India is listed as engaged in selective Internet filtering in the conflict/security and Internet tools areas and no evidence of filtering was found in the political and social areas by the OpenNet Initiative (ONI) in May 2007.[3] ONI states that:
As a stable democracy with strong protections for press freedom, India’s experiments with Internet filtering have been brought into the fold of public discourse. The selective censorship of Web sites and blogs since 2003, made even more disjointed by the non-uniform responses of Internet service providers (ISPs), has inspired a clamor of opposition. Clearly government regulation and implementation of filtering are still evolving. … Amidst widespread speculation in the media and blogosphere about the state of filtering in India, the sites actually blocked indicate that while the filtering system in place yields inconsistent results, it nevertheless continues to be aligned with and driven by government efforts. Government attempts at filtering have not been entirely effective, as blocked content has quickly migrated to other Web sites and users have found ways to circumvent filtering. The government has also been criticized for a poor understanding of the technical feasibility of censorship and for haphazardly choosing which Web sites to block. The amended IT Act, absolving intermediaries from being responsible for third-party created content, could signal stronger government monitoring in the future.[3]
Pakistan
The OpenNet Initiative listed Internet filtering in Pakistan as substantial in the social and conflict/security areas, as selective in the Internet tools area, and as suspected in the political area in December 2010.[4]
In late 2010 Pakistanis enjoyed unimpeded access to most sexual, political, social, and religious content on the Internet. Although the Pakistani government does not employ a sophisticated blocking system, a limitation which has led to collateral blocks on entire domains such as Blogspot.com and YouTube.com, it continues to block Web sites containing content it considers to be blasphemous, anti-Islamic, or threatening to internal security. Pakistan has blocked access to websites critical of the government.[4]
In early March 2006, the government temporarily had all websites hosted at the popular blogging service Blogger.com blocked. Millions of websites from all over the world are hosted at blogspot, along with thousands of Pakistani ones. This step by the government is possibly due to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, as some blogspot websites put up copies of the cartoons.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is listed as a country "under surveillance" by Reporters Without Borders in 2011.[5]
Several political and news websites, including tamilnet.com and lankanewsweb.com have been blocked within the country.[6] Tamilnet has been producing news about the Sri Lankan civil war, focusing in the north and the east of the country, and is seen by the government as a Pro-LTTE news website. A government spokesman has said that he is looking to hire hackers to disable Tamilnet. [7]
The Sri Lanka courts have ordered hundreds of adult sites blocked to "protect women and children".[8][9]
See also
All films banned as rated as "Adults Only" in Sri Lanka from August 2009. "Aksharaya" By Asoka Handagama in Sri Lanka from 2008.*Salman Rushdie
References
- ^ a b "Details on Sigma Huda", Janice Raymond, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women International, in News Blaze, 8 June 2007
- ^ "UN rights boss asks Bangladesh about graft charges", Reuters, 7 June 2007
- ^ a b "ONI Country Profile: India", OpenNet Initiative, 9 May 2007
- ^ a b "ONI Country Profile: Pakistan", OpenNet Initiative, 26 December 2010
- ^ "Countries Under Survanence: Sri Lanka", Reporters Without Borders, March 2011
- ^ "Popular Tamil website 'blocked'", BBC News, 20 June 2007
- ^ "Sri Lanka seeks hackers to down pro-Tiger website". Agence France-Presse (AFP). 20 June 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
- ^ "Sri Lanka court blocks porn websites", The Colombo Times, 25 July 2009
- ^ "Sri Lanka bans over 100 porn websites featuring locals", ColomboPage: Sri Lanka Internet Newspaper, 26 August 2010
External links
- India
- Sri Lanka
