The ban of yemenportal.net had a devastating impact on its readership, which is predominantly based in Yemen.

The below graph illustrates how radical an effect the first ban had on January 19, which is the date the government banned the website for the first time:

It can be clearly seen how the number of hits plummeted to about 10% of its average number of hits just after the ban took place, preventing thousands of online readers in Yemen from viewing the website’s contents. After the first ban, an alternative website was set and slowly visitors in Yemen started to get to know about it. But then again, the authorities tracked down the alternative website and had it blocked as well on February 9th and the blow graph illustrates the impact that had on the number of hits of the website just after the second ban took place (on February 9):

Since the second ban, an alternative third website was set up and its address was sent out to subscribers by email. The successive bans have resulted in frustration to thousands of readres in Yemen and demonstrate the level of intimidation and restrictions the auhtorities are practicing against it.

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