Online access to a video whose anti-Islamic content has caused violent demonstrations across the Muslim world has been blocked in the UAE.
Attempts to watch a clip of the film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ were today met with messages from UAE operators Etisalat and du saying that the content was blocked as it violated the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority’s (TRA) ‘Internet Access Management Regulatory Policy’. The policy states that “internet content that contains material which expresses hate towards religions” must be blocked by internet service providers.
The TRA refused to comment on the matter when contacted by Arabian Business.
The film, clips of which were posted on the internet, portrays the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) in a negative light and has provoked an outcry among Muslims and triggered violent attacks on embassies across North Africa and the Middle East.
Four US officials including the ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, were killed in the east Libyan city of Benghazi last Tuesday after anger over the film boiled over.
US and other foreign embassies were stormed in other cities in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and on Saturday, Afghanistan’s Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack on a base which killed two U.S. Marines, saying it was in response to the film.
At least 17 people have been killed since Tuesday in the violence, which prompted Washington to send troops to bolster security at its missions.
* With Reuters
Follow us on
