It’s ironic that just as mainstream articles are appearing that say about Islam and jihad what I’ve been saying for years — although they’ve not appeared in the U.S., and were not written by me — I’ve been getting word that Jihad Watch is banned in various places.
First, an email from a Jihad Watch reader:
I work in government for the City of Chicago. As inevitable as it is to use the Internet while at work (though discouraged unless it is for offficial business, the reality is that most every employee invariably checks the Internet), I found that your website was officially blocked as of today, Monday July 2, 2007. It was not blocked for the past few years even up until last Friday. You may find it interesting to note that CAIR’s website is fully accessible, along with other virulent jihad-oriented websites.
When my secular infidel co-workers and I, equally interested in the excellent anti-hate (idem est jihad) material that you provide attempted to access your site today, we received a notice “Blocked. Category: Hate Speech.”
I also received this email yesterday:
The PC police at Bank of America have Denied Access to jihadwatch.org.
And this one:
Roberto,
Here I am in Denver for training on my new job…staying at the Red Lion Hotel….I go down to the business center here and try to access Jihad Watch….They have something called SITE COACH that will not allow access to the site—reason—HATE MONGERING.
Now, I’ve long been used to the tactic used by jihadists and their allies — labeling any opposition to the jihad ideology, and particularly any exploration of the elements of Islam that the jihadists use to incite violence, as “hatemongering.” But that doesn’t mean I am going to acquiesce to it. This site is dedicated to the defense of human rights against the depredations of jihad supremacism, which would subjugate women and religious minorities. There is nothing hateful about that, and nothing to apologize for.
So if anyone reading this knows of any way to contact the relevant authorities at the city of Chicago, Bank of America, and/or “Site Coach,” please pass them along. We are not going to be silenced without offering resistance.
ADDENDUM: Another. This just in:
Same thing happened at Fidelity Investments, your (great) site is now blocked.
Again: if anyone knows any way I can deal with this and try to reverse it, please let me know.