Comments on The Muscatis: Article 61

JFL - you obviously didn't read my blog post in fu...

2009-03-17T17:53:00.000+04:00

JFL - you obviously didn't read my blog post in full. What you wrote repeats the last couple of sentences of my post.

And by the way, I don't delete comments.

Sorry to say, but english sabla is by no mean, an ...

2009-03-17T16:13:00.000+04:00

Sorry to say, but english sabla is by no mean, an intrest to any official.

The same articles that was behind Said Al Rashdi's arrest and trial was publish in many other little known forums, no one gave a sh!t about them, and same rules apply here, whether you deleted the article or not in english sable wouldn't make any difference.

Wake up Muscati, every one knows that english forums are way behind when it comes to real life issues that Omani people face (I mean other than flirting and gay stuff).

Heck, you would probably delete this post too, it wouldn't be a surprise and Frankly I wouldn't mind it either, because this is only meant to be read by you ;)

2009-03-17T16:10:00.000+04:00

This comment has been removed by the author.

Dude.

I used to moderate the Politics and E...

2008-11-15T13:00:00.000+04:00

Dude.

I used to moderate the Politics and Economics forum at Sabla for a while. Thank god I got so sick of all the bullshit and idiots who posted there (and some of the admin, ahem), and left.

Jesus.

Muscati,

You really did dodge a bullet ther...

2008-09-05T21:42:00.000+04:00

Muscati,

You really did dodge a bullet there.

Keep us updated on the progress & result of the investigation?

I am a new to Muscat, Previously i worked in Saudi...

2008-09-04T12:45:00.000+04:00

I am a new to Muscat, Previously i worked in Saudi, in Saudi the law is strict and effective. but here , after landing ..i found in hotel..every day..omani's coming with girls for one night stand. and also in massage centres also..so many girls servicing for 10 /RO....really a Muscat wonder ful heaven in Middle east for night life

Muscati, the Telecommunications Regulatory Act mak...

2008-09-02T12:42:00.000+04:00

Muscati, the Telecommunications Regulatory Act makes criminal offences in that Article. Criminal offences are against the state and do not require a claimant or an actual victim. Claimants can make their own civil actions along with these under any other causes of action (e.g. defamation).

When the Telecom Act was passed it only made it an punishable offense "to transmit a message while knowing that it is untrue".

The Act was amended earlier this year to include Articles 61.3 and 61.4 to punish any person who transmits any message contrary to the public order or common morals, AND to also punish any website admin who encourages or agrees to publish any messages which are contrary to the public order or common morals.

You can check the out actual text of the article here (Arabic PDF) and here (English PDF).

So yes, website owners, administrators, and supervisors can be held liable. And yes, the Public Prosecution can take action without a complaint by a victim. (But in practice they wouldn't know without someone complaining).

The law does not link the untruthfulness clause (61.1) with the website owners liability clause (61.4), but only says that admins are liable for messages which are offending under 61.3 (contrary to public order and common morals)only. However, the terms public order and common morals can be interpreted in many creative ways.

It is also unclear if knowledge (actual or constructive) is required by the administrator, it just says agreeing to or inciting - positively or negatively - the publication of these messages.

But regardless, it is quite clear that admins and moderators are liable for what is written on their websites, even if it is written by someone else.

2008-09-02T12:40:00.000+04:00