MANAMA, Bahrain — A Tunisian court has ordered the blocking of all porn websites in the country within 48 hours.
Gulfnews has reported that the court of first instance issued the ruling after three lawyers, Ahmed Hasana, Monem Turki and Imed Saadia, last week filed a legal case to re-impose a block of porn sites that was lifted following the revolution that toppled the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on January 14 who had ruled for 23 years.
The court ordered the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI) to re-block all X-rated websites.
Since censorship ended in January, seven porn sites have appeared among the 100 most visited websites in Tunisia, according to the Tunisian Internet site Business News, five of which were in the top 50.
The lawyers said porn sites have "negative psychological, physiological, social and educational effects" and that adult material clashed with the values of the Arab-Islamic society.
The report said the initial ban on porn sites was lifted in January following an outcry by citizens for more individual freedom and rights.
