JEDDAH, 13 May 2007 — A well-known Saudi short story website (www.arabicstory.net) was hacked on Friday by an unidentified group calling itself “Group x 5”.
The website is popular not only in Saudi Arabia but throughout the Arab world and was founded seven years ago by Saudi writer Jubair Al-Milehan, originally from Hail.
The hackers’ statement said that the website was attacked as part of their plan to “delete all Shiite and Zoroastrian websites.” The statement concluded by saying, “This is a lesson for you to teach you not to give your money to a Zoroastrian.”
Al-Milehan said that the attackers were acting on incorrect information as the site is owned and run by him and that he does not give any money to anyone who helps him run the site. “It’s all done by volunteers who work out of love for literature. The only money being paid to anyone is to the American company who provides and maintains the server. If the hackers think they are attacking the Americans, that’s another thing altogether.”
Al-Milehan who is the president of the Dammam Literary Club said that the website is a purely cultural one, founded to honor Classical Arabic as the language of the Qur’an. “I’m not sure what they meant by Zoroastrians. It all seems like a misunderstanding to me.”
He does not think the hacking has anything to do with his presidency of the Dammam Literary Club or with the club earlier receiving criticism and protests for having shown an Iranian film. “If the hackers objected to the film, they would have attacked the club’s official website but they did not,” he pointed out.
He said that the first problem with the hackers had occurred last month but that Friday’s attack had taken place at midday when the volunteers were not present. He said that the website would be up and running as soon as possible.
The website has some 1,500 members, both men and women, from all over the Arab world. They post their literary works along with comments and discussions.
In 2005, the site moved from the virtual world into reality with the publication of its first book entitled, “Stories From Saudi Arabia.” The book contained 70 short stories written by established as well as new Saudi writers. It was published by the Yemeni Ministry of Culture as part of its celebration of Sanaa as the Cultural Capital City of the Arab World in 2005.
