iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
The Bab Al Mandab strait in the Red Sea is a sea lane through which much of the world's oil is shipped
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Saudi Arabia threatens to block YouTube over anti-Islam film
Saudi Arabia has threatened to block YouTube in the kingdom if Google does not respond to a request to deny access to an anti-Islam film produced in the United States, the official SPA news agency reported Tuesday.
“Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission has ordered host companies in the kingdom to block this movie from Internet users and has also requested Google to block all YouTube links carrying the film,” SPA reported.
“If this request is not met, the commission will block YouTube altogether,” SPA said, also quoting the Saudi telecoms as urging citizens to report any links through which the film can be viewed.
The low-budget film incited a wave of bloody anti-American violence in cities across the Muslim world which targeted symbols of US influence ranging from embassies and schools to fast food chains.
At least 30 people have died so far in unrest connected to the film in over 20 countries.
Among those killed were the US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three other Americans in an attack last week on the US consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi.
Saudi Arabia on Thursday condemned the American film but also denounced the deadly attacks in reaction to it.
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh have blocked access to YouTube after the video-sharing website failed to take down the initially obscure film, believed to have been produced by a small group of extremists in the United States.
The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Yemen have ordered blocking access to all websites carrying the video.
Google has denied access to the videos in Malaysia, Indonesia, Libya, Egypt and India.
And the Russian communications minister on Tuesday warned that his country could follow suit.
“It sounds like a joke, but because of this video... all of YouTube could be blocked throughout Russia,” minister Nikolai Nikiforov wrote on Twitter, about the anti-Islam film.
“If there is a court decision and YouTube does not take off the video, then access will be limited.”
More news from
Herzi Halevi said on Saturday, a day after the United States vetoed a UN bid for a ceasefire in the war with Hamas
In the first six months of 2023 some 42,000 individuals departed Canada, adding to 93,818 people who left in 2022
The American was not seriously injured but it is unclear if he will be pronounced fit to compete in Sunday’s finale at Khalid Lagoon
Hartono says she had to fight for every point to get past Watson as Tikhonova waltzed past Abduraimova in the second semifinal
Funding for the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate comes from governments, companies, and non-governmental organisations
Through their work, they have displayed the beauty of the sea, desert and the heritage as well as its people and wildlife
48,780 people have also been wounded in the war, a spokesman said