(MENAFN- Jordan Times) Dozens of Jordanians demonstrated on Sunday, urging the government to block pornographic websites in the Kingdom.
The participants, who included parents, young activists and children, said blocking pornographic websites is a necessity to prevent "any negative physical or psychological impact on the younger generation".
"The government should immediately instruct telecom companies and Internet Services Providers to block these websites," Ammar Al Saket, a father of two who launched a campaign on Facebook to block pornographic sites, told The Jordan Times during the demonstration near the Eighth Circle, where the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology is located.
"The majority of those who use the Internet in Jordan are children and young people. Sometimes when Internet users surf the web looking for some educational, historical or scientific information, a link or a window appears with pornographic content," Saket said during the protest.
"Pornographic sites are blocked at universities, schools and public entities. The government should block these sites completely," he said.
Ahlam Sbeihat, a professor of Spanish at the University of Jordan, agreed.
"Internet connection is available everywhere nowadays. The young can connect to the Internet using their mobiles, laptops, PCs at home and in cafés and anywhere they want," she told The Jordan Times during the demonstration.
"Not blocking pornographic sites in Jordan is a major concern for families in Jordan. These sites are against our Arab and Islamic values and traditions and blocking them is a must," Sbeihat said.
"Some people do not want these sites blocked, saying it is a matter of personal freedom. But these sites violate our values and traditions and should be blocked," she said.
Several mothers took part in the protest along with their children.
Um Saleh, a mother of three, said she wants these sites blocked because they "contradict Islam".
"My eldest son is 12 years old. He uses the Internet at home to do homework and look for information. But I am always afraid that a link with adult content or a pornographic site will pop up while he is using the Internet," she told The Jordan Times.
"The government should block these sites because if young people watch these sites, they will be addicted and that will affect their health and way of thinking. If the government does not block these sites, it means it wants to destroy my children and the way I raised them," Um Saleh charged.
The Facebook campaign, which was launched in February to pressure the concerned authorities to block such sites in the Kingdom, had drawn 33,984 fans by Sunday.
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