Breaking the Chains
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Breaking the Chains the araB World and iran Press Freedom rePort 2009 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The contents of this book are copyrighted and the rights to use of contributions rests with the authors themselves. Cover image: West Bank, Ramallah 2008. TV crew hit by tear gas while scouting for shelter. ©Alex Majoli/Magnum Photos Publisher: Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary Managing Editor: Sarah Bouchetob, Middle East and North Africa Projects Officer Design: Mary Schrider, [email protected] Printed by Druk Hoeilaart, Belgium The IFJ would like to thank Reuters, Magnum Photos, Belga News Agency and its member unions in the Arab World and Iran who contributed to this publication. Published in Belgium by the International Federation of Journalists © 2009 International Federation of Journalists International Press Centre Residence Palace, Block C 155 Rue de la Loi B - 1040 Brussels Belgium tel. +32 2 2352200 fax. +32 2 2352219 [email protected] http://www.ifj.org Table of Contents International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 19 ................................................... 1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 3 Algeria ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Bahrain ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Egypt ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Iran ............................................................................................................................................ 11 Iraq ............................................................................................................................................ 14 Jordan ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Kuwait ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Libya .......................................................................................................................................... 21 Morocco ...................................................................................................................................... 23 Palestine .................................................................................................................................... 25 Somalia ...................................................................................................................................... 28 Sudan......................................................................................................................................... 30 Tunisia ....................................................................................................................................... 32 United Arab Emirates ................................................................................................................. 34 Yemen ........................................................................................................................................ 36 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 19 Everyone shall have the right to hold 1opinions without interference. MEMBERS INCLUDE: Everyone shall have the right to freedom of 2expression; this right shall include freedom Algeria, signed 1968, ratified 1989 to seek, receive and impart information and Bahrain, accession 2006 ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or Egypt, signed 1967, ratified 1982 through any other media of his choice. Iran, signed 1968, ratified 1975 The exercise of the rights provided for Iraq, signed 1969, ratified 1971 3in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may Jordan, signed 1972, ratified 1975 therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but Kuwait, accession 1996 these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary: Lebanon, accession 1972 (a) For respect of the rights or reputations of Libya, accession 1970 others; Morocco, signed 1977, ratified 1979 (b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public Somalia, accession 1990 health or morals. Sudan, accession 1986 The Covenant allows derogations on this right Syria, accession 1969 for the protection of national security, public order (Article 19-3/b) and in a situation of «a Tunisia, signed 1968, ratified 1969 public emergency which threatens the life of Yemen, accession 1987 the nation….to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation.» (Article 4-1). Breaking the Chains Press Freedom Report 2009 1 Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana is seen holding a camera next to an Israeli tank in the Gaza Strip. Shana, 23, and two other Palestinian civilians were killed on April 16, 2008, in what local residents said was an Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip. © REUTERS/Handout (GAZA) Introduction his has been a turbulent twelve months attempt to report on public concerns about se- for journalists in the Arab World and Iran curity and terrorism. There are prosecutions of Twith conflicting developments for journal- those who criticise the head of state, bring the ists across the region. The growing optimism of government into disrepute, insult the monarch improved security in Iraq in 2008 should be set or question religious affairs. Reporters and writ- against the assassination attempt against the ers can be threatened with loss of jobs or with President of the Iraqi Union of Journalists and violence and in Iraq and Palestine they may be the despair of families of journalists targeted and targeted and killed. killed in Gaza. The release of Yemeni journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani, jailed for associat- In response journalists unions throughout the ing with terrorist organisations, was welcomed region are leading a campaign for the release everywhere, although the three year prison sen- of all imprisoned journalists and a reform of tence handed to Muntadhar al Zaidi for throwing legislation to end the criminalisation of legiti- a shoe at George Bush press conference was mate journalism encompassed in this Break- widely condemned as disproportionate. ing the Chains report. Journalists’ unions have also launched a new campaign this year The Arab Charter on Broadcasting launched to promote the highest standards of journal- in February 2008 and aimed at increasing ism and to moderate the debate between the government control over critical content was competing interests of the public and national quietly dropped during the year in the face institutions. This will enable journalists to both of mounting criticism from journalists’ unions work freely but within a professional and ethi- and campaigning groups at home and abroad. cal framework embodied in the Ethical Jour- But this has not stopped many governments nalism Initiative, launched at the Dubai EJI from seeking new means to restrict and in- conference in February. timidate journalists. For their part, journalists are encouraged by increasing public demands This is the second Breaking the Chains report for greater independence, pluralism and truth to be launched by the IFJ and its affiliates in the telling. The public want a forum for their views region. The report focuses on national develop- and for the media to expose corruption and ments, legal obstacles to journalism that need to injustice and promote debate to resolve politi- be reformed and a list of key cases of journalists cal and social issues. prosecuted for their work in the past 12 months. It also documents the actions taken by the jour- As in previous years, journalism remains chal- nalists unions in each country and their support lenged by traditional forces intent on limiting for the rights of their members. the range of discussion and debate. Many issues are taboo and journalists struggle to The drama of the past years, often seen in identify the limits of free expression that are violent and tragic images, speaks for itself. compatible with the national culture. The Iraqi Union of Journalists, emerging from a brutal and bloody period, saw the assassina- Paradoxically, journalists are both freer but tion of its President, Shihab Al Tamimi, and also under greater pressure to toe the line. The the attempted murder of his successor, Moaid boundaries of discourse are expanding but the Al Lami. It is planning a major conference in penalties for journalists who overreach them- May 2009 on Journalists Standards and Edito- selves remain punitive and severe. There are rial independence that should mark, if not the more arrests and prosecution of journalists who end of attacks on journalists, then the begin- Breaking the Chains Press Freedom Report 2009 3 ning of the normalisation of Iraqi journalism. ing the broadcasts on ‘technical grounds’. The union’s energy is turning increasingly to Meanwhile authorities in Morocco, Algeria and professional issues and the growth of a Iraqi Tunisia all banned an edition of the French journalism and the draft media law. Mean- L’Express for an article ‘Le