.halal domain suffix cooks up contention

For only the second time in fifteen years, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will make a direct ruling on an application for a generic top-level domain name (gTLD), after the sub-tier Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) took a cool view on an application to establish .halal and .islam gTLDs.

Not since the introduction of the .xxx domain suffix in 2003 has ICANN had to make such a call.

Some countries, such as India and Saudi Arabia, raised concerns, while the GAC received support from governmental agencies in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Oman, Turkey and Malaysia, as well as from the Gulf Cooperation Council.

So far, 35 delegated gTLD suffixs have been assigned, of which 19 belong to Google’s new Charleston Road Registry company.

With GAC set to rule, all eyes will turn to the matter of the .kosher application.