Bahrain Freedom Movement

Cairo – 25 January 2007 The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) sent an open letter on 16 January 2007 to the Bahraini Minister of Information, Mohammed Ben Abdul Ghaffar Abdullah, urging him to take all the necessary measures to unblock HRinfo’s website (www.hrinfo.net) in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Reporters without Borders (RSF), an organization defending freedom of press, has also sent an open letter in this regard to the Bahraini Minister of Information on 10 January 2007. Dr. Mohamed Ben Abdul Ghaffar AbdullahBahraini Minister of InformationCairo, 16 January 2007

RE: Executive Director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo), Gamal Eid is writing to call for unblocking HRinfo website (www.hrinfo.net) in the Kingdom of  Bahrain.

Dear Minister,I am writing to urge you to take necessary measures to unblock HRinfo website in Bahrain. We believe that such blocking is contradicting your previously announced promises to respect citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and information exchange.HRinfo was alarmed that its website is blocked in Bahrain because of publishing some documents on the report titled “El-Bandar Gate” attributed to human rights organizations in Bahrain, in addition to other topics that you might consider critical of human rights conditions in Bahrain.The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information is a network  providing information in Arabic language through publishing and exchange human rights publications issued by Arab human rights organizations and nternational organizations working in and on the Arab world on its website. Therefore, Rinfo cannot be deemed liable to the contents of these publications.Nevertheless, reporting on violations is not as dangerous as having violations happening. We are looking forward that you will interfere to unblock HRinfo website regardless the fact that the website includes some news and information that you may dislike. Freedom of expression means basically  to allow different opinions and contradicted points of view to appear to the public. Dear Minister, blocking websites and banning media usually lead to reversed results. Thereupon, blocking HRinfo website is not gainful and will not prevent the exchange of any information. However, it will give an impression that your ministry is against freedom of expression values, while we deem you far above.We, Arab citizens working in human rights industry, aim at supporting the rights of Arab public to freedom of expression and information exchange. We believe that our Arab audience is able to adopt stance, take decisions, and differentiate between true and false in accordance with the information they have. Thereupon, we stress our demand to unblock HRinfo website in compliance with Bahraini citizens’ right to review its content. All of us work for the good of those citizens; each in his/her own way.

While I look forward to hear from you soon, please accept my best regards,

Sincerely,Gamal EidExecutive Director

The Arabic

Network for Human Rights Information