22 September 4, 2016 Society Arab Media ’s media are still censored

Ahmed Twaij

London

he importance of freedom of the press is unques- tioned. Without freedom of the press, the Panama Papers and News of the TWorld scandals would never have surfaced. Freedom of the press vi- tally provides accountability for a government to its citizens, ensur- ing any allegations can be investi- gated, something the increasingly corrupt Iraqi government lacks. Following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the liberation of media rules produced a flurry of new media outlets in Iraq. Paul Bremer, head of the Coalition Provi- sional Authority, at the time stated: “Three weeks after I got to Baghdad there were already a hundred news- papers being printed in Baghdad.” Today, Iraq boasts 49 free-to-air satellite channels. At many Iraqi news conferences the speaker is surrounded by so many branded microphones that it is sometimes impossible to see who is talking. Despite the number of media out- lets, Iraq ranks 153rd out of 180 in Iraqi security forces stand guard outside the headquarters of the Iraqi journalists’ syndicate in Baghdad during the 2014 press syndicate Reporters Without Borders’ World elections. Press Freedom Index. Freedom House stated that Iraq’s media are have been used to pressure various corruption live in fear of retribu- and Baladi being loyal to Jaafari. to other countries within the re- “not free”, scoring it 72 out of 100 media agencies into inaccurate re- tion. Zahir al-Fatlawi was fined 1 Although Iraq has a variety of gion, Iraq has far greater levels of on the Press Freedom Score. ports or forced some to shut down. million dinars — about $850 — for channels, the lack of independence freedom. Nonetheless, Iraq is tak- In early 2016, Qatar-based Al Ja- attempting to shed light, with evi- means the quality of media cover- ing steps backward with a draft bill Despite the number of zeera had its licence to operate in dence, on corruption within the age is poor and severely biased. proposing to further limit freedom media outlets, Iraq Iraq revoked for apparently “con- Ministry of Housing. According to the Committee to of expression being met by opposi- ranks 153rd out of 180 tinuing violations and offences and In a similar case, Adnan Hussein, Protect Journalists and the Brus- tion from the Iraqi Union for Free- in Reporters Without persistent media discourse insti- editor-in-chief of Baghdad-based sels Tribunal, Iraq is one of the dom of Expression. gating violence and sectarianism”. al Mada, wrote an article criticis- most dangerous places in the world For Iraq to progress, to prevent Borders’ World Press Local media such as al Baghdadia, ing Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim to work as a journalist. ISIS has further corruption and figures Freedom Index. a channel popular among the Sunni al-Jaafari only to be met with death played a massive role in the dan- acting dauntlessly in their self-in- minority, were also shut down. threats. Examples such as these ger; however, the various sects and terests, freedom of press must be Since 2014, the Iraqi government Albasheer Show, an internation- have created an environment of militias flourishing within Iraq are maintained. Each allegation of cor- has played an increasing role in ally acclaimed satirical TV pro- fear for journalists. also often a threat to media mem- ruption must be fully investigated media censorship even though the gramme presented in the same The diversity of Iraq’s media re- bers. and not met with death threats. post-Saddam constitution pledged light as Comedy Central’s Daily flects the variety in the political Due to Iraq’s weak government, Without accountability, corrup- to protect freedom of speech. Show, suffered a similar fate and sphere. Each political party, militia the law is in the hands of one of the tion will remain enshrined within The Communications and Me- was forced off Al Sumaria by the and occasionally individual gov- many factions that have the abil- the failing government much like dia Commission, as part of the war government. The programme, ernmental figure has its own satel- ity to use force. Should a journalist the sectarianism that the new bills against the Islamic State (ISIS), re- which has enjoyed online success, lite channel. Undoubtedly, none of speak out against one of the pow- promised to remove. leased vague directions on how the refused to change its style, which these non-independent channels erful political parties or religious media should report the affairs of pokes fun at those deemed corrupt, dare say anything against the nar- scholars, he puts his life at risk. In Ahmed Twaij is a British doctor, the country. Guidelines suggested both governmental and religious rative their sponsors address. April, journalists from al Nas and born to Iraqi parents, researching that only positive news stories authorities, figures who are other- Some of Iraq’s largest channels al Mustaqabal were attacked after in Iraq for a master’s degree should be released and stories that wise regarded as infallible by the are affiliated with large parties. criticising a Shia cleric. in global health with conflict, do “not accord with the moral and wider society. Examples include TV and Let us not forget that Iraq is security and development from patriotic order required for the war Media censorship is not limited Ammar Hakim’s Islamic Supreme placed within the backdrop of high King’s College London. He on terror” were banned. to the government. Journalists at- Council of Iraq, al Afaq supporting levels of censorship within the is also a freelance writer and Being ambiguous, the guidelines tempting to disclose allegations of ex-prime minister Nuri al-Maliki wider and, compared photojournalist. Palestinians face a trilateral crackdown

Viewpoint uman Rights intensify their respective However, bickering erupted PA security forces. Watch has released crackdowns, with each faction immediately, threatening to The great In the case of Gaza, Hamas has a report accusing smearing any dissent or unflat- scupper the vote. little incentive to abide by Palestinian tering reporting as an act of This leads to the other motiva- tragedy in all international treaties protecting authorities in the sabotage by the other. tion behind the crackdowns: this is that free speech because they were West Bank and This intolerance is fuelled by They may not feel threatened by Palestinians ratified by the PA. This further HGaza Strip of “arresting, abusing two seemingly opposing sources. each other but they know that highlights the bipolarity of not only and criminally charging journal- On the one hand, the geographic Palestinians are increasingly fed Palestinian politics, which is ists and activists who express separation and isolation of the up with the status quo of Israeli have to sustained by the international peaceful criticism”. West Bank and Gaza and the help occupation, colonisation and contend with community’s insistence on only Sharif “The crackdown directly Israel gives the PA in driving blockade, in addition to their abuses by dealing with the Palestinian Nashashibi violates obligations that Pales- Hamas underground in the West own leaders’ political infighting Authority. tine recently assumed in ratify- Bank have solidified the feud and economic mismanagement. Israel but The great tragedy in all this is ing international treaties between the Palestinian factions Not only have both parties also by their that Palestinians not only have to protecting free speech,” the as well as their monopolies on roundly failed to realise Palestin- own leader. contend with abuses by Israel but report added. power. ian national aspirations but the also by their own leaders, those The report joins a growing list Hamas knows the PA cannot PA insists on security coopera- who claim to represent a national of others documenting human challenge it in Gaza and the PA tion with Israel despite the vast liberation movement that is rights abuses by both the knows its rival cannot do so in majority of Palestinians opposing supposed to champion and Fatah-led Palestinian Authority the West Bank, so they both feel this. respect Palestinians’ fundamen- (PA), which governs parts of the relatively free to govern with There is a growing public sense tal rights. West Bank, and Hamas, which increasing authoritarianism. This that both factions have become It would be the height of irony has governed Gaza since 2007. has resulted in stagnation in both too comfortable in their own and folly for Hamas and the PA to They have both used their rivalry territories, with two one-party fiefdoms, placing party politics assume that they can indefinitely as a pretext to maintain and systems claiming to represent and preservation above national silence Palestinian dissent, when Palestinian interests. interests. Privately aware of this, both factions have proudly A lack of national elections Hamas and the PA are trying to highlighted the people’s stead- since 2006 means Hamas has ensure this increasing public fastness in resisting decades of There is a growing ruled Gaza for almost a decade frustration does not boil over and Israeli oppression. There is no public sense that both and Mahmoud Abbas has been PA threaten their positions. reason to believe that Palestin- president for almost 12 years, Opinion polls indicate that ians would more willingly accept factions have become too despite his term officially ending most Palestinians want Abbas to suppression by their own comfortable in their own almost eight years ago. The resign. There were mass protests leaders; the contrary may indeed Palestinian Authority announced recently in Nablus, the West be the case. fiefdoms. in June that municipal elections Bank’s second-largest city, after a would take place in October and Palestinian was allegedly Sharif Nashashibi is a journalist Hamas agreed to participate. detained and beaten to death by and analyst on Arab affairs.