Internet censorship plans in Egypt

This video from Canada is called Toronto Solidarity Picket for Egyptian Workers – Apr. 11/08.

By Sherif Mansour, Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service:

Right now, the Egyptian government is considering blocking Facebook, the social networking website that has become a popular hangout for twentysomethings worldwide and a favourite venue for Egypt’s disaffected youth. The reason: In April, one group of young citizens mobilised 80,000 supporters to protest rising food prices. Facebook networking played a crucial role in broadening support and turnout for an April 6 textile workers’ strike and protest.

The Egyptian government, which has governed for 25 years under emergency law and doesn’t allow more than five people to gather unregistered, hit back hard, jailing young dissidents and torturing Ahmad Maher, a young activist who tried, unsuccessfully, to organise a second demonstration in early May. Despite these setbacks, the “Facebook movement” in Egypt is significant for several reasons. First, it challenges the perception that there is no prospect for independent, secular opposition in the country. The majority of Egyptians are under 30 and have known no ruler other than Mubarak. They have not seen real political parties because the government has long restricted opposition parties and free media. The Facebook movement engaged large numbers of youth for the first time.

See also here.

Egyptian detainees accuse state of torture: here.

While pro-democracy protests in Iran top the news agenda, similar tensions in Egypt pass unreported: here.

Egypt imposes SMS restrictions: Opposition says new measure on mobile text messages will curtail them: here.

The Egyptian parliamentary elections on Sunday were dominated by repression, violence and electoral fraud. The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) of President Hosni Mubarak won nearly all the seats while opposition parties won only seven. A further seven seats went to independent candidates: here.

Turkish courts impose ban on YouTube: here.