Reports that suggested Wikipedia had banned users from Qatar have been dismissed by the site's founder, Jimmy Wales.

A number of pages relating to the US, sex and the prophet Muhammad were vandalised, according to the BBC.

Mr Wales published a statement on the Wikipedia discussion page stating that the 'ban' had been a temporary block.

"If you came here from a news headline saying that Wikipedia has banned all of Qatar, please pop right back over there and post in the comments that the story is not true," he noted.

"This IP number was temporarily blocked for less than 12 hours, and a block of an entire nation would go absolutely against Wikipedia policy.

"In all language Wikipedias, such an action would require a series of administrative processes, and would never ever be undertaken lightly, nor without extensive attempts at direct negotiation with the ISP and/or nation in question."

Wikipedia allows all 'editors' to edit the site's articles in good faith as long as information is cited correctly.


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