Saudis want Islam on Internet

Saudis want Islam on Internet

RIYADH (AFP): Saudi Arabia is eager to join the Internet to
boost business and promote Islam but it is still debating how to
prevent pornography and political opposition manifestos from
flooding into the kingdom.

"Imagine in the African jungle, in Europe, America, and even
in Alaska people could learn a lot of things about Islam, Arab
history and the Saudi economy," said Ihsan Abu Haliqa, a
university professor in Saudi Arabia.

"A journalist in the United States, if he wants to write an
article about our country, will have direct access to our sources
and will no longer have to depend on biased sources," he added.

The Saudi monarchy often receives negative coverage from the
foreign press and international human rights organizations
because its Islamic law administers corporal and capital
punishment to convicted criminals.

But if it hooks up to the Internet, Saudi Arabia will also
open the door to the opposition in exile which could spread its
ideas through the kingdom from computer sites worldwide
accessible on the World Wide Web (WWW).