The New Normal, more surveillance and repression as we get closer to finishing the race; Gulf states using Covid-19 pandemic to ramp-up repression: Amnesty. MbZ and MbS … ‘BFF’s’
Date of publication: 15 October, 2020 The New Arab
Gulf states are using the Covid-19 outbreak as a pretext to clampdown on free speech and criticism of government, Amnesty International said on Thursday.
The rights group accused GCC member states – particularly Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman – of using “pre-existing patterns” to suppress expression, particularly online.
Since the pandemic spread earlier this year, Gulf governments have warned citizens and residents against spreading “false news” or “misleading information” online.
A number of individuals have been prosecuted for social media posts related to Covid-19 and their government’s handling of the pandemic
Amnesty International found that none of the new social media restrictions were necessary to protect public health, or that the penalties for critical or “misleading” posts were disproportionate.
“Once again, GCC states opt for using what means they have at their disposal to silence any public debate, in this instance about the pandemic and are clearly more concerned about averting public scrutiny than about protecting public health,” said Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa
“Access to information is in fact essential for keeping the public up to date on how to protect themselves from the virus.”
Rights groups have accused a number of Gulf states of introducing legislation – usually as part of counterterrorism or cyber-security laws – aimed at suppressing online free speech or to crack down on dissent.
In 2020, under the pretext of tackling misinformation and “fake news” regarding the coronavirus, many governments introduced new restrictions online.
Amnesty International said that a number of individuals in GCC states have been subject to harassment and intimidation by authorities for discussing the pandemic online.
In Kuwait and Bahrain, a significant amount of government resources have been spent on monitoring online debate about the coronavirus and quashing criticism of the government’s handling, the rights group said.
In Kuwait, this year has seen a particularly high number of investigations and prosecutions of individuals relating to online content.
Bahrain at the start of the crisis also warned it would “confront decisively… [anyone found] spreading false news and biased rumours”.
Manama has set up a special unit to monitor online Covid-19 content, resulting in 60 new investigations and 40 social media users being referred to prosecutors for “disturbing public security”, Amnesty said.
In July, Oman’s public prosecution warned that “publishing material that infringes on public order” would be punishable with six-months in jail and fines of 1,000 rials ($2,200). Several people accused of “inciting” against steps taken by authorities have been prosecuted.
Saudi Arabia prosecutors have frequently used cyber laws to prosecute dissidents and activists, for the “production, preparation, transmission, or storage of material impinging on public order, religious values, public morals and privacy” with punishments of five years in jail and 3 million riyal fines ($800,000).
During the coronavirus crisis, several individuals have been prosecuted under Article 6 of the kingdom’s cyber-laws for “mocking the Covid-19 crisis” and posting photographs of empty shelves in shops, amid fears of shortages of some products.
The UAE, which has some of the toughest cyber-crime laws in the world, also prosecuted individuals during the Covid-19 crisis.
In March, the UAE Federal Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi, told a press conference that “spreading fake information and rumours is a crime punishable by law”.
Anyone caught “spreading rumours about the virus on social media” – even “out of ignorance” – “will face legal consequences”, he warned.
Amnesty International called on Gulf states to end such practices and take a more proactive and scientific approach to dissemating public health information, regarding the virus.
“We therefore call on the GCC states to not only put an end to such unwarranted practices and ensure people can express themselves without fear of reprisals, but also to urgently step up their efforts to ensure they are the disseminating reliable, accessible, evidence-based and trustworthy information, which is crucial to counter false and misleading information,” said Maalouf.
Night Watchman Note; We are to ‘be watchful’ in helping to understand today’s events as related to biblical prophecy. That is what ‘watchmen or women’ do. Jesus made clear that when He actually does come for His disciples, His wise and faithful servants would be aware of the time because they would be watching. They would know the season of the times by WATCHING those things ‘coming to pass or occurring’ as Jesus said they would. The ‘BENCHMARK SIGN(s)’ always point towards Israel / Jacob. God’s prophetic timepiece. The FALSE PEACE COVENANT confirmed by the Prince/Beast among MENA (the many) is the ‘key sign’ of the times or the season of the times. Yes, we are in that period. The Prince/Beast will likely confirm and enhance the current ‘normalization’ agreement with Jacob to be a ‘peace’ agreement, to be extended to 7 years from the current 5 years, to include some agreement permitting the rebuilding of the third temple in exchange for ‘some portion of Jerusalem.’ The current ‘investment’ period for the Palestinians stands at five (5) years. This will likely occur AFTER the Bride, Disciples or True Church is removed from the earth via the Rapture / Harpazo / Redemption / ‘Twinkling’.
Seven (7) References to ‘BE WATCHING or WATCHFUL.’
Matthew 24:42; Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Matthew 25:13; Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Mark 13:35; Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning.
Luke 21:36; Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man
Luke 12:37-39; Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4; For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (Be Watching).
John 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
John 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
‘Increasing Like Labor Pains.’ ‘Fearful Sights.’ ‘Perilous Times.’ ‘Men’s hearts failing with fear.’ Great Convergence of Signs.’ REDEMPTION IMMINENT.
In His Service,
Night Watchman
Paul Rolland
Night Watchman Ministries
Make Your Decision for Christ NOW!!!!!!! Time is Up!!!!!!!
Jesus Christ’s Offer of Salvation:
The ABCs of Salvation through Jesus Christ (the Lamb)
A. Admit/Acknowledge/Accept that you are sinner. Ask God’s forgiveness and repent of your sins.
. . . “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).
. . . “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10).
. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8).
B. Believe Jesus is Lord. Believe that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be; that He was both fully God and fully man and that we are saved through His death, burial, and resurrection. Put your trust in Him as your only hope of salvation. Become a son or daughter of God by receiving Christ.
. . . “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:15-17). For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).
C. Call upon His name, Confess with your heart and with your lips that Jesus is your Lord and Savior.
. . . “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10).
. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (John 1:8-10).
. . . “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (John 2:2).
. . . “In this was manifested the love of god toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:9, 14-15).
. . . “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:8-10).
. . . “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
. . . “Jesus saith unto them, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).
. . . “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 1:16).
. . . “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts: 4:12).
. . . “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:4-6).
. . . “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
. . . “But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12).
True Church / Bride of Christ Spared from God’s Wrath:
Romans 5:8-10. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
Romans 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 1:10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 5:9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 8:35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Jeremiah 30:7. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.