Mahmood's Den

BAHRAINI authorities yesterday claimed to have blocked a number of websites and blogs by mistake. The Information Affairs Authority (IAA) claimed a technical error resulted in blocking of several sites, but said in a statement it was fixing the problem. [...] She said her site www.sillybahrainigirl.blogspot.com was blocked on Tuesday after being incorrectly categorised as [...]

If there ever was a reason not to trust Internet filters, even from a world authority like McAfee in this case, then the blocking of my friend Amira Al-Hussaini’s website is a case in point. For some reason, the “smart filter”, which is purportedly used by most telcos in the Gulf, has mistakenly categorised her [...]

With the strange blocking of Silly Bahraini Girl, I can no longer speculate as to what the government’s policy, standards or strategy employed other than a heavy handed approach in stifling speech and them hoping – or actually believing – that such methods actually work in this day and age. Amira Al-Hussaini’s blog’s content is [...]

As I leave this lovely city and bid adieux to new friends, its time for a reflection. I came here at the invitation of the German government’s Foreign Office through their embassy in Bahrain. I came rather hesitantly as I had to take ten full days off work at a time where we’re rather busy [...]

I know, such a revaluation isn’t it? I’m in Berlin as part of an excellent program by the German Federal Foreign Office. They invited a group of 15 international bloggers coming from countries spanning across from Costa Rica through to China. Part of the program is to meet with German bloggers and opinion makers to [...]

All local bloggers are invited to a Local Bloggers Meetup on Saturday 13th of June 2009. 11 AM Dolce Café in Zinj. We’d love to restart, reconnect and re-meet old and new friends. Please take a couple of hours off and come and have a coffee with us. Find out what number this meeting is [...]