Access was made possible in Iraq in 1999, but until two months ago only e-mails were allowed at private homes. Now, Iraqis can click on most sites -- but not on all, and at a price few can afford.
That is a huge improvement in a country that still bans satellite television and fax machines for private users. Sales of foreign language newspapers and magazines are also prohibited.
"We missed so much because of the isolation, but now we are looking over the wall and rediscovering the world," said Hammed Sahhaf, a 27-year old engineer, in one of Baghdad's several newly opened Internet cafes. "We still cannot afford to travel abroad, or buy foreign books or newspapers, but Internet is giving us most of this."
There are some Internet sites which Iraqis cannot access: those deemed "contradictory to the Islamic law," including those containing sex or pornography. "Access Denied" also shows up when Iraqis click on the Web sites of Iraqi opposition groups abroad, which are critical of President Saddam Hussein's regime, and some U.S. government sites.
"Even if we could, no Iraqi would visit such pages," said Hassan, a 20-year-old medical student who gave only his first name. "We are patriots and know well what we shouldn't do."
The Iraqi Communication Ministry, which is in charge of providing the Internet to the Iraqis, keeps the number of users secret. The number is believed to be relatively low in the country of 25 million, mostly because of the huge price tag for connecting on the World Wide Web.
Annual subscriptions for private Internet access costs about $750, while average monthly salaries are about $10.
"Only a privileged few can afford to use the Internet here from home or purchase a PC in the first place," Hassan said. "But we poorer ones save a few 'Saddams' to get on line."
Saddams are 250-dinar notes (worth about 12 cents) with the Iraqi leader's portrait on it.
"We are recording a rapid increase in the demand for PCs in Baghdad as Iraqis are traditionally modern people, and curious to learn," said computer salesman Ali al-Hasan. "But the prices are the problem," he said, adding that one average PC costs $300 at his shop.
But despite the hardships caused by 12 years of sanctions, and life under Saddam's hard-line regime, Iraqis are trying to live normal lives.
Teenagers pack Baghdad's new computer centers, mostly hooked on computer war-games. American soldiers are the chief enemy.
"It's better to fight the Americans on the computer than in Baghdad," said Mustafa, a teenager as his fingers moved quickly on the keyboard, his anti-aircraft cannon shooting down a U.S. Air Force A-10 jet with ease. "This is one of the games I would never like to see live."
Copyright 2002. Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
