Anti-Muslim Bias to the International Kindle

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by MovieBird

What I find aggravating, is that you can't put a Kindle copy on your wish-list. So, I have a ton of paperback books on my Amazon wish-list, which I end up purchasing elsewhere to avoid DRM.

there are quite a few things not on Kindle that are frustrating/irritating. I had started reading a George R.R. Martin series a ways back and for whatever reasons, all of the books took a hike before I could read them (or I did). I just re-purchased them for my Kindle knowing full well that it is only the first 4 or 6 or somesuch of the set. I'm not sure what I'll do when I come to the end of these... fret?

[neilmarr]

I've been happy with my Sony -- so I've emptied my Amazon treebook wishlist. Even if I had a Kindle, I don't think the Amazon store wishlist system has an ebook option yet. Hoots. Neil

[MattP]

I have just noticed this while browsing through the countries that Kindle is shipped and Kindle ebooks can be downloaded. Many of the countries such as Canada that are listed here as non-available can received Kindles. However, the situation with Muslim countries other than Albania and Bosnia still hold. The entire Muslim world is 1.6 billion with many rich, secular, democratic, and English-literate countries. I can understand why Iran is excluded because of US sanctions but what explains the absence of Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt among others. None of these countries are in the list. Israel and S. Korea is listed as no-shipping but ebook downloadable country. So no Kindles to them but they can buy kindle ebooks. this is not true for Muslims. I see this a bad image for the company. I emailed amazon asking for clarification and will send you if I receive an explanation. Even though I am based in the United States, I will not do business with amazon if there is no clear explanation for this odd situation. Maybe it is not the company policy as it is possible to buy physical books from amazon shipped to many of Muslim countries, a fact that refutes many of the culture-based arguments listed here. but it is our right to know why amazon excludes Muslim nations when the book is electronic.

[sabredog]

That is a big assumption really. There are a great deal of ebooks that are geographically restricted that Australian residents cannot buy for instance. Do I assume that that is because I drive a car on the opposite side to US drivers or that I put the "u" in colour I am targeted for exclusion?

As mentioned many times on MR, ebook restrictions affect everyone and Amazon or publishers would assuredly not deliberately target any group of people for exclusion religious or otherwise. Geographic restrictions are purely distribution based (outdated business practices or not), not application of religious persecution.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by MattP

I have just noticed this while browsing through the countries that Kindle is shipped and Kindle ebooks can be downloaded. Many of the countries such as Canada that are listed here as non-available can received Kindles. However, the situation with Muslim countries other than Albania and Bosnia still hold. The entire Muslim world is 1.6 billion with many rich, secular, democratic, and English-literate countries. I can understand why Iran is excluded because of US sanctions but what explains the absence of Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt among others. None of these countries are in the list. Israel and S. Korea is listed as no-shipping but ebook downloadable country. So no Kindles to them but they can buy kindle ebooks. this is not true for Muslims. I see this a bad image for the company. I emailed amazon asking for clarification and will send you if I receive an explanation. Even though I am based in the United States, I will not do business with amazon if there is no clear explanation for this odd situation. Maybe it is not the company policy as it is possible to buy physical books from amazon shipped to many of Muslim countries, a fact that refutes many of the culture-based arguments listed here. but it is our right to know why amazon excludes Muslim nations when the book is electronic.

I think you are looking at this the wrong way. Actually what you should be considering is how many of these very conservative countries would like their citizens to have access to Kindle ebooks? The governments and major parts of Muslim societies would be deeply offended. I am sure Amazon would be more than happy to take their money, if they could.

[K-Thom]

Sure, but shouldn't this be easy for Amazon to clarify or explain?

"We would like to sell to these countries but
a.) aren't allowed to due to contractual terms / jurisdictional issues
b.) consider local censorship a grave issue for our readers
c.) simply didn't think about it yet"

Or won't AT&T provide coverage for those countries?

[lene1949]

Amazon is in it for the money... not for any political reasons.... They're a business - here to make money...

The fact that I can't buy certain books from Amazon is due to the publishers, not Amazon itself.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by K-Thom

Sure, but shouldn't this be easy for Amazon to clarify or explain?

"We would like to sell to these countries but
a.) aren't allowed to due to contractual terms / jurisdictional issues
b.) consider local censorship a grave issue for our readers
c.) simply didn't think about it yet"

Or won't AT&T provide coverage for those countries?

Explaining that local censorship is a grave issue again might offend a lot of people, too. Think about Singapore. How can they win, whatever they say, someone will pounce on them. Keeping silent may be the best option.

[astra]

Just another troll.
He wants to incite the flame. 1 post and in such topic.
Ignore him please.

[Patricia]

I don't know that we can be sure about that, Astra. It's also true that new members join because they want to give their views on controversial issues, and it prompts them to stop lurking.

[astra]

Originally Posted by Patricia

I don't know that we can be sure about that, Astra. It's also true that new members join because they want to give their views on controversial issues, and it prompts them to stop lurking.

If you honestly believe in it
Whatever...

[icemncmth]

I guess Amazon hates country people...my mom lives out in the country. She could buy a Kindle but she wouldn't be able to download books!..No internet no Cell coverage most of the time...

[HorridRedDog]

The problem may be with what could be inside.

Harlequin Romances


Has anyone checked to see if ANY ereaders are allowed in Muslim countries?

[Duiker]

Everyoone, please stop replying to this thread so it can die in peace and we can get back to the business of e-readers and not personal biases

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by HorridRedDog

The problem may be with what could be inside.

Harlequin Romances


Has anyone checked to see if ANY ereaders are allowed in Muslim countries?

I would agree that Censorship could play a role in releasing eBooks but there are eBook Readers in Turkey. Check Walkbook in our wiki. Of course it was done by a local company.

Dale