The Guardian reports that three Bahraini bloggers are facing criminal charges, and up to ten years imprisonment, for running a web forum that allows free political debate.

Ali Abdulemam, who founded Bahrain’s first website, BahrainOnline.org, in 1999, was arrested along with the site’s two other moderators.

Although the state telecoms’ monopoly has been trying to block it since 2002, Bahrain Online is the country’s most popular website. It has has 26,000 registered users.

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Many of Bahrain Online’s contributors attack what they see as government repression, corruption and religious discrimination.

The three were arrested ear lier this year, and detained on five charges including “inciting hatred against the government”.

They were later released, but still face charges.

Bahrain is witnessing unprecedented calls for more democracy. But the authorities want more control over new media.

The controls the Bahrani government is seeking include demanding that bloggers register with the ministry of information and a proposed bill to regulate the use of Bluetooth technology on mobile phones.

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