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Discuss this article (15 Comments)Saudi launches its own 'clean' version of YouTube
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Friday, 28 August 2009
CLEAN SITE: NaqaTube’s logo is “Participate with us in a clean website.” (Getty Images)
A ‘clean’ alternative to the popular video sharing website YouTube has been launched in Saudi Arabia that adheres to the Kingdom’s standards of cultural, religious and moral sensibilities, according to a report.
According to the Arab News daily a group of Saudis have developed NaqaTube (Naqa means ‘pure’ in Arabic), which is a collection of clean and edited clips from YouTube.
The site censors videos that are deemed negative towards to the Kingdom’s government, scholars and citizens in general.
Related: Saudi campaign to clean up YouTube
Related: Banned Skype plans Gulf HQ
NaqaTube’s logo is “Participate with us in a clean website.”
In keeping with religious guidelines, images of women and music are also banned, with NaqaTube visitors able to edit their own clips through the site before uploading them online.
According to Abu Ibraheem, one of the moderators of NaqaTube, the site has received nearly 5,000 to 6,000 visitors since its launch two months ago.
It’s the latest measure Saudi has adopted to protect its youth and preserve its cultural and religious identity in cyberspace, Arab News said.
For months now, members of the ‘Saudi Flagger’ campaign have been searching YouTube for inappropriate content, which it then requests the site’s administrators to remove.
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Saudia has no monopoly on Islam
Posted by ABUSIDRA, DUBAI, U.A.E. on Monday 31 August 2009 at 13:20 UAE time
First of all let me make clear people replace the word Islam for Saudi and vice versa. It's a country and they don't have monopoly on Islam or Muslims in general. They have their own sets of rights and wrongs as normally all countries have. They implement Shariah law partially and not completely. Now, coming on the typical stero-typing of Saudis by the western masses, its a direct result of your biased-media against Saudis & Islam. Not all fingers are the same, how much is the proportion of older men marrying younger women in Saudia? Underline marrying not making incest with daughter or confining teenage girls for 2, 3 decades in dungeons or fathering her children, raping etc as in Western socieities. Lets forget about statistics which says NY, USA has the highest crime rates especially rapes even though its an advanced and so called cultured country with liberal laws for all? So, when you can have multiple sexual partners, mistresses etc and which is quite common, then why rapes, adultery, also drugs, crimes, abuse & domestic violence etc more prevalent in western societies? What people are bothered about is driving of women in Saudia, when their society is matured enough, they will introduce it gradually, dont worry much on it. Fyi, women in Islam are treated with respect and revered as mothers, sisters, wives etc unlike most non-Islamic countries, treating them as objects of pleasure and show promoting nudity and 'liberating' away from clothes. Regarding the Online addiction, masses are so much addicted that everything good or bad they do, they want people to know. A student in USA killing in the campus after posting his idea and adventure on msnbc, similarly people on youtube, yahoo have crazy, sickening ideas and they share it publicly. So, saudis are fair enough to promote their local site instead of rubbish and porno sites. What is the issue? Finally try to learn Islam first, availing the month of Ramadan prior to making any comments against Saudis or Muslims or Islam. Learn from comparative scholars like zakirnaik not from your media. Thank you.
Posted by ABUSIDRA, DUBAI, U.A.E. on Monday 31 August 2009 at 13:20 UAE time
First of all let me make clear people replace the word Islam for Saudi and vice versa. It's a country and they don't have monopoly on Islam or Muslims in general. They have their own sets of rights and wrongs as normally all countries have. They implement Shariah law partially and not completely. Now, coming on the typical stero-typing of Saudis by the western masses, its a direct result of your biased-media against Saudis & Islam. Not all fingers are the same, how much is the proportion of older men marrying younger women in Saudia? Underline marrying not making incest with daughter or confining teenage girls for 2, 3 decades in dungeons or fathering her children, raping etc as in Western socieities. Lets forget about statistics which says NY, USA has the highest crime rates especially rapes even though its an advanced and so called cultured country with liberal laws for all? So, when you can have multiple sexual partners, mistresses etc and which is quite common, then why rapes, adultery, also drugs, crimes, abuse & domestic violence etc more prevalent in western societies? What people are bothered about is driving of women in Saudia, when their society is matured enough, they will introduce it gradually, dont worry much on it. Fyi, women in Islam are treated with respect and revered as mothers, sisters, wives etc unlike most non-Islamic countries, treating them as objects of pleasure and show promoting nudity and 'liberating' away from clothes. Regarding the Online addiction, masses are so much addicted that everything good or bad they do, they want people to know. A student in USA killing in the campus after posting his idea and adventure on msnbc, similarly people on youtube, yahoo have crazy, sickening ideas and they share it publicly. So, saudis are fair enough to promote their local site instead of rubbish and porno sites. What is the issue? Finally try to learn Islam first, availing the month of Ramadan prior to making any comments against Saudis or Muslims or Islam. Learn from comparative scholars like zakirnaik not from your media. Thank you.
Is English evil?
Posted by Denny Crane on Sunday 30 August 2009 at 14:30 UAE time
Couldn't find any English language content on the site, hence... assuming that means that according to Saudi's English is not only the language of the Queen, but also the preferred tongue of the anti-christ...
Ironically, the one of the few English words on the home page I could see was 'New'... figures
Posted by Denny Crane on Sunday 30 August 2009 at 14:30 UAE time
Couldn't find any English language content on the site, hence... assuming that means that according to Saudi's English is not only the language of the Queen, but also the preferred tongue of the anti-christ...
Ironically, the one of the few English words on the home page I could see was 'New'... figures
Please respect cultures & religions different from your own
Posted by anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 30 August 2009 at 14:20 UAE time
Hey guys give the Saudi's credit for their efforts to protect their people. If it works for them, who are we to judge?
In my country, the US, we have censorship in TV and radio. While I cherish freedom of expression I understand the necessity to have content monitored.
Most societies operate within established boundaries that protect without impinging too much on individual freedom.
Posted by anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 30 August 2009 at 14:20 UAE time
Hey guys give the Saudi's credit for their efforts to protect their people. If it works for them, who are we to judge?
In my country, the US, we have censorship in TV and radio. While I cherish freedom of expression I understand the necessity to have content monitored.
Most societies operate within established boundaries that protect without impinging too much on individual freedom.
nothing better to do
Posted by Neil, Dubai on Sunday 30 August 2009 at 13:56 UAE time
Ajaz
My original points were not connected to crime statistics but I reckon if a country's legal system consists of laws of the type which bans half the population from driving for no rational reason other than they are women (lets not forget they seem to manage quite well every where else) and then legalise old men to buy and marry young girls without their consent then comparing that legal system to that of any European country is possibly a discussion which would maybe be best for another day. Certainly comparing statistics like for like would be difficult...
My original point was that the youth of Saudi (and I am presuming this kind of thing would be mainly done by people from the younger generation) should maybe get some other interests than surfing You Tube for videos which they deem against their views.
I doubt any of this ends up becoming any sort of crime other than possibly criminal video quality.
Posted by Neil, Dubai on Sunday 30 August 2009 at 13:56 UAE time
Ajaz
My original points were not connected to crime statistics but I reckon if a country's legal system consists of laws of the type which bans half the population from driving for no rational reason other than they are women (lets not forget they seem to manage quite well every where else) and then legalise old men to buy and marry young girls without their consent then comparing that legal system to that of any European country is possibly a discussion which would maybe be best for another day. Certainly comparing statistics like for like would be difficult...
My original point was that the youth of Saudi (and I am presuming this kind of thing would be mainly done by people from the younger generation) should maybe get some other interests than surfing You Tube for videos which they deem against their views.
I doubt any of this ends up becoming any sort of crime other than possibly criminal video quality.
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