Topic: Censorship of the Internet
Country: Syria
Delegate Name: Alex Reinke
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Syria position papers GLIMUN 2010 committees
Over the past few decades, the internet has become a fast moving and quickly evolving machine dedicated to linking people together and transmitting important information. The information available varies from beneficial and informative to detrimental and harmful lies. Because of the unpredictable nature of the internet, some countries have chosen to filter the internet in order to stop the spread of false information that may generate chaos and instability within a nation.
The Syrian Arab Republic strongly defends the option for sovereign nations to choose the extent to which they filter their citizens’ internet usage. Syria greatly believes in this policy because it has been highly effective in our own borders. For instance, Syria withholds information that attacks the Baath political party because it could harm state security and damage national unity. The few who have plotted against the Baath Party in order to create lies, fear and unrest within the great nation of Syria have been foiled by effective means of internet censorship. The quick response of the Syrian government to these threats has created a more peaceful and informed society. Other countries that have chosen the same pathway, such as Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Myanmar to name a few. These nations have also reaped the rewards of censoring the internet. Syria would look favorably upon working with nations who believe in a nation’s right to censor the internet in order to create a fair and effective resolution.
Syria affirms our rights to filter the internet of inappropriate and hate-fueled materials, and arrest those who do not abide. Therefore, Syria would be opposed to any resolution that would hamper our nation’s sovereignty. We would also strongly disagree with any resolution that imposes on a nation’s process of handling criminals who break censorship laws.
