DOHA: Qataris have launched a social media campaign against Twitter to protest the indiscriminate and unjustified deletion or suspension of several accounts of Qataris by the online social networking site.
The campaign, which is gathering momentum, observed a Boycott-Twitter-Sunday on May 26 with several citizens staying away from the networking site for 24 hours.
Seething with anger, citizens have accused Twitter of playing politics and siding with the blockading countries in the current crisis. They say Twitter is succumbing to pressure from blockading countries because it has an office in Dubai, and has closed the accounts of several Qataris for defending their country. They want the site to restore the suspended accounts and protect their right to freedom of expression.
“It is shocking that a company which is standing for media freedom and free opinion is closing the accounts of Qataris. They are doing this only because we are defending our country. We have the right to defend our country. They are violating our rights by closing our accounts,” several citizens said on Twitter and in other social media platforms.
The social media, especially Twitter, has become a battleground in the Gulf crisis with supporters of both sides trading charges and defending their sides.
Abdul Rahman, whose account has been suspended by the networking site, said he has been active on Twitter since 2012 and the only mistake he committed was “defending my country”. “The excuse they are using to close our accounts is shocking. If somebody sends a complaint against a Qatari tweeter, they will close that account,” he said.
Qataris say that Twitter is suspending only their accounts, while it is turning a blind eye to the complaints against tweeters from the blockading countries.
“We are surprised at Twitter’s action. Let us continue this campaign and show that we are all united on this issue. We cannot accept the partisan attitude of Twitter,” tweeted Abdulla Al Mulla.
Some tweeters have called for a boycott of the networking site, which, they say, is losing its image as an impartial player, adding that the campaign will continue until it succeeds and company guarantees a level playing field.