Oman website blocked because of criminal offences

Oman website alhara.net was blocked because of criminal offences committed by users on this forum and not due to politically-motivated reasons, according to the Public Prosecution Department at the Royal Oman Police (ROP). Both the telecom operators in Oman have blocked the website. Nearly 80 activists signed a memorandum urging authorities to allow freedom of expression and open the site, which is one of the popular platforms for the Omani residents to express their views on diverse subjects. In a statement released through Oman News Agency on Friday evening, Ali Bin Saif Al Maamari, who heads a committee tasked with probing information technology crimes in Oman, said that the Public Prosecution Department had to shut down Al Hara Al Omaniyah web forum after receiving complaints from some citizens regarding them being made target of insults, abuses and unfair accusations via the website. The Public Prosecution Department sought identity of those posting insulting and abusive matters on the forum. \"We sent an e-mail to the moderators asking them to provide the real identity of some of the members of the forum,\" he added. \"The website\'s management replied saying that their Internet Protocol feature is not activated and they distanced from any contact with the authorities,\" he further said. \"Since we didn\'t get cooperation from those who moderate the forum, we had no choice but block it in Oman,\" Al Maamari said. \"Article No 27 of the Penal Procedures Law stipulates that any person approached by a Judicial Inspector for official information must provide required details,\" he noted. He added that the aim of blocking the website was to bar suspects from fleeing or committing more crimes. A moderator from alhara.net agreed to talk to Gulf News via email correspondence as most activists in Oman now fear talking on their mobile. But there has been no reply to questions sent to a moderator via email last Tuesday.