Syria bans Apple's iPhone in attempt to silence protesters
Government authorities in Syria have reportedly banned the use of Apple's iPhone, as the country tries to quell protesters who seek to oust President Bashar Assad.
The Syrian Finance Ministry's Customs Department is serving activists with notices that read: "The authorities warn anyone against using the iPhone in Syria," according to Lebanese website El Nashara (via The Next Web). The report includes a picture of the notice that is reportedly being distributed to protesters, alerting them of the ban on Apple's iPhone.
Authorities are believed to be targeting the iPhone because protesters have been using it to capture violent clashes between themselves and the government. Those videos are then uploaded to the Internet where others can see them, providing more fuel for the protests to continue.
The report gave no indication as to whether authorities in Syria are cracking down on other smartphones with video recording capabilities besides the iPhone.
The conflict has now been raging for 8 months, and November was the deadliest month yet in Syria, with nearly 1,000 people killed. The United Nations has estimated that more than 4,000 people have died since the protests began in March, according to The Associated Press.
Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was actually of Syrian descent, as his biological father Abdulfattah John Jandali migrated to America. Jobs was given up for adoption, and the two never formally met, though biographer Walter Isaacson revealed in his book that the two did cross paths coincidentally.
Jandali actually became involved in the Syrian dispute this week, with a new video uploaded to YouTube for the "Syrian Sit-In" movement. "I am in solidarity with the Syrian people," he said.
The Syrian Finance Ministry's Customs Department is serving activists with notices that read: "The authorities warn anyone against using the iPhone in Syria," according to Lebanese website El Nashara (via The Next Web). The report includes a picture of the notice that is reportedly being distributed to protesters, alerting them of the ban on Apple's iPhone.
Authorities are believed to be targeting the iPhone because protesters have been using it to capture violent clashes between themselves and the government. Those videos are then uploaded to the Internet where others can see them, providing more fuel for the protests to continue.
The report gave no indication as to whether authorities in Syria are cracking down on other smartphones with video recording capabilities besides the iPhone.
The conflict has now been raging for 8 months, and November was the deadliest month yet in Syria, with nearly 1,000 people killed. The United Nations has estimated that more than 4,000 people have died since the protests began in March, according to The Associated Press.
Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was actually of Syrian descent, as his biological father Abdulfattah John Jandali migrated to America. Jobs was given up for adoption, and the two never formally met, though biographer Walter Isaacson revealed in his book that the two did cross paths coincidentally.
Jandali actually became involved in the Syrian dispute this week, with a new video uploaded to YouTube for the "Syrian Sit-In" movement. "I am in solidarity with the Syrian people," he said.
Comments
And here's an image of a memo warning of the ban. I can't seem to get to this story on the AppleInsider page proper, so I don't know if it has images, too.
In before Georgy from 9to5 posts saying that this is a lie.
And here's an image of a memo warning of the ban. I can't seem to get to this story on the AppleInsider page proper, so I don't know if it has images, too.
I saw that this morning on twitter from my friends from Lebanon and Syria. I've been to syria before. For $2 you can pass anything through customs. However, now it might be different because of all the killing.
The iPhone. The phone that's so great that some people actually risk death just to use one.
Is an Android phone worth getting killed over?
Apple should make a new TV commercial.
The iPhone. The phone that's so great that some people actually risk death just to use one.
Is an Android phone worth getting killed over?
Was that necesary? The article states pretty much any smart phone. So yes, someone pulling out a Galaxy SII could get killed...
Or one of those original RAZRS...
Was that necesary? The article states pretty much any smart phone. So yes, someone pulling out a Galaxy SII could get killed...
Actually, the iPhone is specifically mentioned. Did you read the article?
The report gave no indication as to whether authorities in Syria are cracking down on other smartphones with video recording capabilities besides the iPhone.
Actually, the iPhone is specifically mentioned. Did you read the article?
The report gave no indication as to whether authorities in Syria are cracking down on other smartphones with video recording capabilities besides the iPhone.
Typically in those countries, advanced phones would be banned any way. Remeber some middle eastern countries cutting off the internet? I doubt this is just an iPhone ban, unless the country hates Apple for some reason. The ban was in affect for the video recording. I think it would be highly inefficent to just ban one phone and not another. Especially considering many phones have video quality on par (GalaxySII) or better (Nokia N8) of the iPhone.
Time to start cutting cell phone poles down now...
I am in solidarity with the Syrian people. I reject the brutality and killing that the Syrian authorities are committing against the unarmed Syrian people. And because silence is participation in this crime, I declare my participation in the Syrian Sit-in on YouTube.
-John Jandali
Also, Steve Jobs dad is from Syria, so...........
That's not Steve Jobs' father. HIs father was the person who adopted him and raised him. Being a biological sperm donor, doesn't make somebody a father.
Steve Jobs didn't even care to meet with that guy, so I doubt he thought much of him.
I doubt this is just an iPhone ban, unless the country hates Apple for some reason.
You stated that the article pretty much states any phone, and I pointed out that that is not the case. It is the iPhone that is specifically mentioned. It may be that other phones are banned too, but the only phone mentioned is the iPhone. Look at the picture of the memo that a few people posted in this thread.
Apple should make a new TV commercial.
The iPhone. The phone that's so great that some people actually risk death just to use one.
Is an Android phone worth getting killed over?
NO phone is worth losing your life over.
This is the last straw. You can email [email protected] and demand that the iPhone ban be reversed, or else all necessary force will be used to remove the Syrian government. Syrian law is irrelevant because the government is illegitimate. Make your threat unequivocal and uncompromising and demand that the iPhone ban be reversed by tomorrow, or else.
The all new iPhone 4S. With the power to over power any Android phone, or government in its way.
NO phone is worth losing your life over.
No kidding. It was just a joke.
If somebody robbed me at gunpoint, I would gladly hand over an iPhone, an iPad or whatever, if I was unable to kill the robber.
Everything is backed up to the cloud, so you just go and get a new one, and in a few minutes you'll be up and running again.
No kidding. It was just a joke.
If somebody robbed me at gunpoint, I would gladly hand over an iPhone, an iPad or whatever, if I was unable to kill the robber.
Everything is backed up to the cloud, so you just go and get a new one, and in a few minutes you'll be up and running again.
But what if your iPhone was bullet proof?
Many years ago I had a number of customers complaining so I instructed them to call the main office since that is where the decision is made. The "solution" to the problem handed down from the main office was to stop giving out their phone number.
Obviously an entirely different on the scale of human tragedies here - but the basic mindset is the same.
Or perhaps this is more along the lines of a two year old - who thinks that if you can't see them they can't see you. Just how short-sighted - or perhaps delusional do you have to be to think that stopping the public from knowing about the atrocities you commit is going to make it okay that you continue to commit them?
In before Georgy from 9to5 posts saying that this is a lie.
And here's an image of a memo warning of the ban. I can't seem to get to this story on the AppleInsider page proper, so I don't know if it has images, too.
The memo warns against the use of the iPhone in Syria, not importing it to Syria, there's a difference.
That's not Steve Jobs' father. HIs father was the person who adopted him and raised him. Being a biological sperm donor, doesn't make somebody a father.
Steve Jobs didn't even care to meet with that guy, so I doubt he thought much of him.
His dad is more than a "sperm donor", the personality, genes, biological form, attitude, temper, and a whole slew of other qualities and dispositions are transferred from the biological father and biological mother to the biological son. We are, after all, biological beings.
Besides, realizing you made a mistake and cannot afford to raise a child, and you put him up for adoption to a family that can, deserves credit.
Why do they allow any cellphones at all, if they are serious about maintaining control.
The memo warns against the use of the iPhone in Syria, not importing it to Syria, there's a difference.
That's the point I was making… the former, not the latter.
The memo warns against the use of the iPhone in Syria, not importing it to Syria, there's a difference.
His dad is more than a "sperm donor", the personality, genes, biological form, attitude, temper, and a whole slew of other qualities and dispositions are transferred from the biological father and biological mother to the biological son. We are, after all, biological beings.
Besides, realizing you made a mistake and cannot afford to raise a child, and you put him up for adoption to a family that can, deserves credit.
Reading Mr. Jobs' Biography.....I think it made him angry. Especially a story he told in the beginning.