Common sense tells us if it ain't broke don't fix it. Unfortunately the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information, MOCI, seems to be lacking in the common sense department. Since last September, the MOCI's spokesperson, Mr. Abdulrahman al-Hazzaa has been talking about how the ministry will soon unveil a system that will organize the internet. Yes, somehow this Saudi ministry believes that it can do the impossible. Despite a lot of objections to the proposal, on the first day of 2011, the ministry announced this groundbreaking new system. An English translation and commentary are available here. What's funny is that two years earlier the Saudi Interior Ministry had already set a very strict and thorough system of laws that oversees any online violations.

In a country where you can get imprisoned indefinitely for being annoying, blocked online without explanation and where a strict and thorough Ministry of Interior supervises everyone, online and off, there really is no need for anymore organizing.

On January fifth, the minister himself expressed doubts about the new system and promised to try to remove the requirement that the ministry has to pre-approve the editor-in-chief  of all Saudi news organization.

Let's support the minister's decision to allow online Saudi news organization to have the freedom to choose their own editors and at the same time request that he remove all forms of individual self-expression from requiring or even encouraging registration. Sign the petition and push for freedom of speech and advocate the participation of Saudis in the online global community at every level without governmental interference.