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).