Moroccan Government Afraid of Criticism

The Moroccan government has long treated the people of its Western Sahara territory as second-class citizens. Now that criticisms of the government have appeared on YouTube, the site was mysteriously blocked.

Here are two excerpts from a BBC article:

Internet users in Morocco who have been unable to access YouTube have voiced concern that it is being deliberately blocked by the authorities.

Many Moroccans have been unable to see the video-sharing site since 25 May.

Some people have linked the problem to videos critical of Morocco’s actions in Western Sahara, a disputed territory which Morocco took control of in 1975.

Bloggers and some internet users agreed. “They’ve clearly blocked YouTube,” university student Abdelhakim Albarkani told AP.

“I’m worried, because YouTube allowed us to see things the state newspapers and television won’t show,” he said.

Reporters Without Borders linked the apparent blocking to videos showing pro-independence demonstrations in Western Sahara.

One such, posted in December 2006, says it shows police beating female protesters in the Western Saharan city of Laayoune.

Read more:

• BBC: YouTube site ‘blocked’ in Morocco