This
is the notice I get when I try to access the photo-sharing site Flikr
in the UAE. Or any site ending in .ir for Israel. And on a host of
other sites that Emirati authorities have decided is not acceptable.
And I work in Dubai Media City, a supposedly "free" zone. Apparently
not a zone for free speech.
I also can't call any Israeli
numbers - which of course also cuts me off from Palestinians living in
Israeli occupied territories as well as business and government
contacts that could be needed to ensure proper, adequate and balanced
coverage.
As a journalist I need to track down information and
contact details for people all over the world. Yet the Dubai
authorities have decided to censor my access to information. How can
they call it a Media Free Zone when in fact it is not free at all?
(I originally wrote this post on
Sept. 29 but decided not to post until leaving Dubai upon the advice of
friends in the media field. Given that TECOM contacted me merely one
day after posting this article I am glad I waited!)
P.S. The character above is one of the four grandmothers that star in the Emirati-created cartoon Freej, which I absolutely adore! Too bad she's used for such a negative purpose...
