Skip to main content

Internet Porn Ban Sticking in Gaza

Human rights activists in Gaza are largely shying from voicing their opposition to Hamas' Internet porn ban for fear of societal judgment.
A Palestinian salesperson holds Apple's new iPhone 5 at a mobile phone store in Gaza City October 16, 2012. Apple's new iPhone 5 is selling well in the Gaza Strip despite inflated prices, reaching the Palestinian enclave via smuggling tunnels even before high-tech hub Israel next door.   REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS SOCIETY TELECOMS) - RTR3970R
Read in 

Visiting a pornographic website within the borders of the Gaza Strip is no easy task. The ban on these sites, called “filtering,” was issued by Osama al-Issawi, minister of communications and information technology in the Gaza government, and came into effect on Aug. 29, 2012. All Internet providers in the Gaza Strip abide by this decision.

Ziad Sheikh Dib, director of the licensing department at the Ministry of Communications, told Al-Monitor in an interview at the ministry that these pornographic sites have been blocked at “the request of people from the Gaza Strip.” He added that the filtration system is automatically applied whenever citizens use the Internet within the Gaza Strip. Dib pointed out that this was once optional when Internet was connected to the landline and when people could enable or disable the protection system.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.