Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia has announced a crackdown on the Internet in an effort to foil those deemed terrorists.

The Saudi government approved a cyber crime bill that would prosecute those suspected of links to insurgency groups. Officials said the legislation was part of a Gulf Cooperation Council strategy to stop Iran and its Hizbullah proxy in the region.

“The bill would act against those who build sites and publish information on the Internet or a computer network for the benefit of a terrorist group to enable contacts among its leaders or its members, to promote its views or funding,” Saudi Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said.

The crackdown was announced after a Cabinet meeting in Riyad on Sept. 9 that included Defense Minister Prince Salman. Officials said the bill would also prosecute those accused of using the Internet to promote dissent.

“It would also act against the dissemination of ideas that could affect
public order or morality,” Khoja said.

In December 2012, the GCC approved an effort to stop Hizbullah and
Iranian proxies from operating in the region. Officials said Hizbullah was
using the Internet for recruitment, propaganda and financing.

Saudi Arabia was said to block more websites than virtually any other
country in the world. Still, the country has faced a sharp rise in unrest,
including attacks on the controversial religious police force. In September,
a religious force police station in Riyad was said to have been targeted by
arsonists.

“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Abdul Latif Al A-Sheik, director of the
religious police, said. “Wait until investigative authorities ascertain the
actual cause of the fire.”

  Abdul Aziz Khoja, Abdul Latif Al A-Sheik, Prince Salman, Saudis’ cyber-crackdown targets suspected terror sites