Middle East: Bahraini bloggers push for freedom of expression

Mark Glaser at Online Journalism Review has written an article describing the plight of bloggers in a Bahrain, a country whose government regularly censors the press. The government's Ministry of Information requires that all Websites and blogs register with the government, a decree to which Bahrain's most prominent blogger, Mahmood Al-Yousif, head of a tech company Computer Point, refuses to comply. He doubts that others will give in to government demands either, esteeming that they will simply post anonymously, possibly under multiple names in order to avoid censorship.

Mr. Al-Yousif's example helps promote the blogosphere as a tool for freedom of speech around the world. There is much speculation as to how repressive regimes will react once their populations start blogging, such as in Iran and in China. As blogs spread, it is highly likely that the joys of free expression of repressed populations will spur the proliferation of liberty and just democracy throughout the world.

Source: Online Journalism Review