Qatar's Al-Jazeera

MIDDLE EAST POLICY, VOL. VIII, NO. 2, JUNE 2001

THE NEW ARAB MEDIA PHENOMENON: QATAR’S AL-JAZEERA

Louay Y. Bahry

Dr. Bahry is adjunct professor of political science at the University of Tennessee. This paper was given at the thirty-fourth annual meeting of the Middle East Studies Association, November 16-19, 2000, in Orlando, Florida.

n a visit to Doha, Egyptian people? What is the content of the pro- President Husni Mubarak grams which have made it famous? What wanted to satisfy his curiosity are the criticisms leveled against it? Oabout the most famous satellite TV station in the Arab world, one that has EMIR HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AND annoyed him and many other Arab rulers. THE NEW MEDIA IN QATAR It was past midnight when he arrived The foundation of al-Jazeera is best unannounced at al-Jazeera’s studio, located explained within the framework of a series in the compound that houses Qatari Radio of reforms instituted by the new emir of and Television. After touring the station’s Qatar, Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, after compound, he turned to Safwat Sharif, his assumption of power in June 1995. A leader of Egypt’s vast media empire, and relatively young man of 44 when he exclaimed: “All this trouble from a match replaced his father, Shaikh Hamad belongs box like this?”1 to a new generation of Arab leaders more Nothing distinguishes al-Jazeera’s open to political and social ideas familiar in modest studios from the hundreds of new the West. To accomplish the transforma- buildings in Doha except its exceptional tion, the emir brought with him a new security measures and official procedures. generation of Qatari leaders. The reforms Al-Jazeera is the first Arab TV station have been not only political, but social and based on Arab soil that is expressly critical economic as well. The emir allowed all of Arab regimes and governments and Qataris (men and women) to vote for even dares insult them occasionally. This members of an (advisory) Municipal paper will attempt to address several Council (March 8, 1999). This was the questions about this new phenomenon. first time women had been allowed to vote How was al-Jazeera born and how did it for members of any political body in any of become what it now is? What kinds of the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation changes has it brought to Arab media, and Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, what has been its impact on the Arab Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emir-

bahry88-99.p65 88 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM BAHRY: QATAR’S AL-JAZEERA

ates).2 The emir of Qatar has also an- THE BIRTH AND RISE OF nounced his intention to hold general AL-JAZEERA elections for an Assembly, the first of its Shaikh Hamad’s motives for establish- kind in Qatar, and has formed a committee ing al-Jazeera are not entirely clear. He to produce a permanent constitution for apparently wanted a TV station reflecting Qatar by July 2002. One of the most the new image of Qatar that he wished to significant reforms sponsored by the emir project to the outside world. The decree was abolition of censorship over the media establishing al-Jazeera in February 1996 in Qatar. This took final shape on March came less than a year after he assumed 30, 1998, with the abolition of the Ministry power,4 and the station started broadcast- of Information, which had been responsible ing nine months later, on November 1, for media censorship.3 This set free the 1996. Initially, the idea was to modernize press, radio and TV in Qatar and paved the Qatari TV and to broadcast it via satellite. way for al-Jazeera. This new freedom also However, the Qataris decided instead to allowed the Qatari press to compete to launch an entirely new TV channel via attract better journalists and a wider satellite to compete with the popular BBC audience. Despite these reforms, however, channel. If one asks the Qataris where the there are still certain “red lines” for the idea for al-Jazeera originated, they quickly Qatari press, and they rarely go beyond respond that it came from the emir himself. them. One is criticizing the ruling Al Thani In fact, the concept was first put forward family. by Shaikh Hamad in August 1994, while Qatar has both government and he was still crown prince. Preparations to privately owned media. The government establish the channel started in February owns the Qatar Radio and Television and March 1995. Initially, the emir consid- Corporation; it also has a Department of ered a mix of entertainment and news, but Printing and Publications and a Qatari he finally opted for an all-news station.5 Press Agency, established in 1975. A A three-member committee was National Council for Arts and Science, appointed to work on establishing the new headed by Princess Mozza bint Nasr al- satellite channel. It was composed of Misned, the wife of the emir, publishes Adnan al-Sharif, a journalist; Muhammad studies and pamphlets. In the private Suhlawi, financial adviser to the emir; and sector, there are three daily newspapers in Shaikh Hamad Bin Thamir Al Thani, Arabic (al-Sharq, al-Rayah and the semi- under-secretary of the Ministry of Infor- official al-Watan), and two private news- mation. The committee flew to London, papers in English (The Gulf Times and The where they prepared a six-hour pilot Peninsula). Two privately owned monthly program. It was later shown to the emir, magazines are published in Arabic, (Qatar and he liked it.6 The committee then began al-Khair and al-Doha lil-Jamiah). The contacting journalists, broadcasters and TV satellite, al-Jazeera, is considered administrators to work for the station. In privately owned. Although the station is that same year (1996) a Board of Direc- managed independently, it is not owned by tors was appointed for the new station, private capital; the station still receives through a decision of the Qatari Council of financial support from the government. Ministers. This board is composed of seven

bahry88-99.p65 89 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM MIDDLE EAST POLICY, VOL. VIII, NO. 2, JUNE 2001

members appointed for terms of three an impressive operation: 497 employees, 11 years. It is composed of members of the offices abroad and 38 foreign correspon- new generation of Qataris, ranging in age dents.10 Each office abroad has at least from 34 to 47. two correspondents, if not more; some on From the very beginning, some fortu- permanent contract, others as freelancers. nate circumstances helped establish al- Al-Jazeera hires from all over the Arab Jazeera on firm ground. In 1996, the Saudi- world, including Iraqis, some of whom owned Orbit satellite station based in Rome come directly from Iraq to work at the scrapped a two-year-old deal to carry the channel. signals of the BBC Arabic TV station. The rupture was caused by a dispute over THE AL-JAZEERA EXPLOSION coverage of two events that displeased the Al-Jazeera struck like lightning. In four Saudis. The first of these programs years, the station has captured the attention featured a leading Saudi dissident. The of viewers from the Persian Gulf to North second covered the funeral procession of a Africa.11 Arabs all over the world who Saudi princess, an event that deeply have satellite dishes faithfully watch their offended the religious sensibilities of the favorite programs on al-Jazeera, all con- Saudis and that they considered contrary to veyed in a widely comprehensible form of their conservative Wahhabi beliefs.7 The Arabic. Until the advent of al-Jazeera, Saudi-BBC dispute coincided with the Arabs did not pay much attention to the establishment of al-Jazeera. Suddenly, media in their own countries. They hundreds of well-trained, professional Arab considered this information as little more journalists, broadcasters and media admin- than an extension of the views of their own istrators were out of work and available for governments, echoing official speeches and recruitment. Al-Jazeera quickly signed reporting on the activities of leaders. contracts with some 120 of them. They Many Arabs turned to the Western media were attracted by better salaries and for objective analysis. Three major broad- promises of more freedom of expression in casting stations (in Arabic) became very their programs and in coverage of the successful: the BBC from London, the news. Thus al-Jazeera was founded from French Radio Monte Carlo and the U.S. the first on “news coverage” as it is known Voice of America. Still, these three in the West.8 Some of the newly hired stations were considered foreign sources staff of al-Jazeera were retained in Lon- of information whose ultimate goal was to don; the rest were moved to Doha. Among serve their own countries. Thus, they were the new recruits were two reporters who easy targets of attack by anti-Western soon helped establish the two most popular individuals and groups. programs on al-Jazeera: Faisal al-Qasim, Al-Jazeera, however, is an Arab who moved to Doha, and Sami Haddad, source, based in an Arab country, whose who remained in London.9 journalists and correspondents are all The station began broadcasting six Arabs. Thus it was welcomed by the hours a day, then increased this to twelve. majority of its listeners. Many Arabs feel a Since January 1, 1999, al-Jazeera has been sense of pride in having a genuinely Arab broadcasting 24 hours a day. It has built up news channel. It quickly gained the trust

bahry88-99.p65 90 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM BAHRY: QATAR’S AL-JAZEERA

and admiration of its audience. Indeed, call on the people of Egypt and Saudi Arabs have quickly become “hooked” on Arabia to rise up and overthrow their its news coverage of Arab affairs, while its leaders, whom he accused of being talk shows have become a centerpiece of “stooges of U.S. imperialism.” For discussion in society. Saddam, airing his virulent speech on al- Before al-Jazeera, Arabs were not Jazeera was the best way to reach the accustomed to TV discussions of sensitive Egyptian, Saudi and Arab publics. In political, social, economic and even reli- October 2000, President Muamar Qadhafi gious subjects. Al-Jazeera’s talk shows of Libya chose al-Jazeera as the means to have hosted guests ranging from Arab leak a draft of the final statement of the heads of state and university professors to Arab League summit on the Palestinian political opposition figures. A number of its intifada, even before the summit was Arab guests have criticized the traditional convened in Cairo. In this way, he hoped to order in lively debates and heated argu- embarrass the Arab leaders over a state- ments. Several shows also have call-ins, ment he considered too weak. Today, al- with questions and comments from listen- Jazeera rivals CNN as a recognized ers from all over the world. Iraqis, Pales- international source of information. It is tinians, Saudis, Bahrainis, Libyans, Tuni- quoted by the international media, which sians, Algerians and others, both supporting appear to accept it as a valid and a reliable and opposing their own governments, have source.12 had their day on al-Jazeera, along with communists and Islamic fundamentalists. AL-JAZEERA PROGRAMS In four years, al-Jazeera has opened Arab News is the central focus of al-Jazeera eyes to a new, daring, frank and provoca- programming, broadcast every hour on the tive medium. It has introduced programs half hour, three of them extended reports that were previously unknown to the Arab of 65 minutes each. Sources are al- masses. Jazeera’s network of correspondents in 26 Within two years of its establishment, countries, as well as international news al-Jazeera was recognized as the most agencies. Global issues of the hour are influential Arab TV channel. Many times, also covered in several talk shows airing al-Jazeera has achieved a scoop in cover- political, social, economic and religious ing events from hot spots as they happen. topics. These are so popular that one, “Bi For example, it was the only TV station in La Hudud” (Without Limits), in which the world allowed to broadcast live the guests discussed alternative medicine, had bombardment of Baghdad by the United received 150 telephone calls by the end of States and the United Kingdom during the the show.13 Two famous and popular so-called “Desert Fox” operation in programs are shaking up the entire Arab December 1998. In 1999, al-Jazeera was world. The first is “al-Ittijah al-Muakis” the first to interview the exiled Saudi (The Opposite Direction), anchored by Dr. billionaire Usama bin Ladin from his hide- Faisal al-Qasim. The second is “al- out in Afghanistan. In January 1999, Iraqi Shariah wal-Hayat” (Religion and Life), president Saddam Hussein chose al- anchored by Yusif al-Qardhawi. Both Jazeera as the medium through which to programs are weekly, two-hour talk shows,

bahry88-99.p65 91 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM MIDDLE EAST POLICY, VOL. VIII, NO. 2, JUNE 2001

where well-recognized people of differing of the United States and Arab countries opinions engage each other in debate about regarding sanctions toward Iraq. The idea topics of the day, including “values” issues. of receiving direct phone calls on air was For two hours, participants grill each other so new that some people accused the while being examined by the host. Both program of “fixing” the interviews in shows receive calls from listeners around advance, including the questions received the world. from listeners.15 Dr. al-Qasim tries to provoke his guests as much as he can to “THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION” extract sharply distinct reactions to his This is undoubtedly the most popular questions and comments. He does not and most controversial political talk show in hesitate, occasionally, to side with one or the history of Arab television. Started by its another of the guests or to provoke them. host, Faisal al-Qasim, a Syrian with a Sometimes guests scream at each other on doctorate from a the air. In many British university, cases, the program the program has Guests have even charged has hosted oppo- been on the air since Qatar with being hasty in nents and support- the inception of al- ers of an Arab Jazeera in Novem- establishing relations with regime. On one ber 1996; by mid- Israel and blasted the policies occasion, a guest May 2000, it had of the United States and Arab became so angry broadcast some 220 countries regarding sanctions that he walked off programs. Its the set. success did not toward Iraq. Faisal al-Qasim come easily. As Dr. firmly believes that, al-Qasim explained: through his program, “From the beginning, it was difficult for me he is contributing something new to the to find people willing to participate in the mentality of the Arabs – the concept of program, and it took some time to develop debating ideas and issues. On this point he the program to its present level.”14 Among told me, the most sensitive subjects debated have been inter-Arab conflicts, Arab conflicts Dialogue is something missing among with the international community, sanctions the Arabs. It is missing in schools, as on Iraq, terrorism and political scandals. much as it is missing everywhere else Through this program and others, the in the life of the Arabs. At home the Arab population has begun to hear, on the father is a dictator. At work, the employer is a dictator, and in the life of air, a new kind of discourse. For the first the Arab countries, the political leader time, a TV station located in a conservative is a dictator. Through programs such GCC country has guests talking about as mine, we hope to implement new rulers in the Gulf as “lackeys of U.S. rules, those that educate the Arab imperialism.” Guests have even charged human being to listen, not only to his Qatar with being hasty in establishing own opinion, but to that of the other relations with Israel and blasted the policies side as well. The debate-based media

bahry88-99.p65 92 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM BAHRY: QATAR’S AL-JAZEERA

must enter in force and strongly in the audiences for a popular radio and TV political life of the Arabs, whether the program anchored by a Syrian-born Saudi Arab regimes like it or not.16 alim (cleric), Ali al-Tantawi. He debated, in a lively manner, differing religious points Al-Qasim’s talk show was, and still is, of view on daily affairs and answered the object of continuous debate among questions from viewers, adding his personal Arab intellectuals, as well as the Arab opinions and commentaries. public. There are those who admire the Now on al-Jazeera there is a new kind program and call it an open forum of ideas of religious program, the talk show, “Reli- or a democratic confrontation on issues. gion and Life,” hosted by Yusif al- There are others who see in it a distortion Qardhawi, a religious scholar and professor of the basic idea of debate and nothing but of Islamic religion at the University of 17 an arena for a bull fight. Faisal al-Qasim Qatar. He brings more daring ideas to the admits that his program is controversial. “I debates that take place each week for two have been accused at the same time of hours with guests who discuss from an being secular, a Communist, a Free Mason, Islamic point of view issues relating to the a Zionist and an Arab nationalist . . . . I effect of modernization on the lives of have also been accused of collaborating Muslims. Among the issues discussed are with the intelligence [service] of every Islamic government, sexuality and po- country in the world except Togo and lygamy. Al-Qardhawi discusses without 18 Burkina Faso.” embarrassment certain sexual practices This program has involved Qatar in such as the circumcision of women. He also numerous disputes with Arab countries that tries to show how Islam can be imple- have accused it of expressing ideas that mented in all aspects of modern life.20 Dr. directly oppose their rulers. This has al-Qardhawi, who holds a Ph.D. from al- happened, for example, with Jordan, Azhar University in Cairo, plays his guests Kuwait, Bahrain, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya off against one another, pushing their limits, and Algeria. Several of these countries while also taking questions from spectators. either withdrew their ambassadors from Not everyone is pleased with this program. Qatar, temporarily, or threatened to do so, Some see it as advocating (through his accusing Qatar of condoning the activities guests) extreme ideas, such as defending 19 of Faisal al-Qasim and his program. traditional Islamic dress or polygamy. Some guests have even advocated forbidding or “RELIGION AND LIFE” limiting work by women. Traditional Arab TV programs, particu- larly those in the Gulf, rarely discuss THE AL-JAZEERA AUDIENCE anything that mixes religion and politics. The president of Yemen, Ali Abd Allah Egyptian TV has had some programs Salih, is reported to have said, “I watch al- where clerics “preach” to the public on Jazeera more often than the Yemeni TV.” Islam and on public issues, but the audi- People all over the Arab world, from heads ence for such programs has remained of state to anyone who can afford a small and limited. For many years, from the monthly cable fee, are watching it. In the mid-1960s until the mid-1990s, the Gulf had relatively poor Gaza strip and the West

bahry88-99.p65 93 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM MIDDLE EAST POLICY, VOL. VIII, NO. 2, JUNE 2001

Bank, close to 40 percent of the Palestin- while Iraq claimed that its people were ians view al-Jazeera.21 Arab intellectuals dying from hunger because of U.N. find it a refreshing change from the sanctions. At the same time, Tunisia and monotonous traditional fare they are Libya protested the fact that al-Jazeera usually offered. Al-Jazeera is also watched hosted opponents of their regimes, and both by millions of Arabs who have studied in recalled their ambassadors. In June 1999 a the West and become accustomed to free- case arose that shocked the Persian Gulf wheeling media. CNN can hardly compete countries. In a telephone call to a talk with al-Jazeera in the Arab world because show, a viewer (presumably an Iraqi) it broadcasts in English and because its criticized the emir of Kuwait, Jabir al- programs are designed to please a Western Ahmad Al Sabah. The Kuwaiti govern- audience. Al-Jazeera caters to the tastes ment took his words as a personal insult to and needs of the Arab viewer. The Arabic the ruler and ordered the closure of the al- services of BBC, Monte Carlo and the Jazeera offices. The Kuwaiti minister of Voice of America have seen a decline in information visited Qatar to express his listeners because of al-Jazeera. government’s outrage. In these and similar cases, the Qatari AL-JAZEERA’S POLITICAL reply has generally been that while the PROBLEMS government of Qatar respects and sympa- Several Arab countries have expressed thizes with this or that country, it has no outrage at al-Jazeera and have held Qatar direct control over the programs because responsible for the programs it airs. While al-Jazeera is privately owned. Tension some Arab governments have chosen to between al-Jazeera and various countries register protests with the Qatari govern- usually calms down after a time, and the ment, others have closed al-Jazeera offices “offended” country begins to deal with the in their countries and sent its personnel and station once again. Al-Jazeera has become correspondents home. In some cases, Arab so powerful, valuable and influential that it countries have recalled their ambassadors is difficult for any given Arab country to to show their dissatisfaction with the TV boycott it permanently. station. Examples can be found from Morocco to Kuwait.22 Jordan, for example, AL-JAZEERA’S FINANCES closed the offices of al-Jazeera in Amman To enable al-Jazeera to function from November 1998 to February 1999 independently of the Qatari government, in after a guest on a debate program criti- 1996, Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani cized the regime and stated his views of granted the station a one-time donation of what the Jordanian people thought of their 500 million Qatari riyals ($137 million). government. The hope was that al-Jazeera would be In the first week of May 2000, the able to establish itself and become finan- Qatari government heard complaints from cially independent within five years. Al- three Arab countries at the same time: Jazeera was supposed to attract sufficient Iraq, Libya and Tunisia. Iraq was protest- income from commercial advertisements to ing al-Jazeera coverage of the extravagant function autonomously. All indications are, celebrations of Saddam Hussein’s birthday however, that al-Jazeera has failed to

bahry88-99.p65 94 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM BAHRY: QATAR’S AL-JAZEERA

generate sufficient income and is still Gulf comes from the Saudi government receiving financial aid from the govern- and is aimed at having an impact on the ment.23 Like the rest of the Arabic populations of the GCC, other Arab satellite TV channels, al-Jazeera is very countries or Arab communities in Europe secretive about its budget. In the absence and the United States.26 Saudi Arabia buys of official statistics, one can only attempt to little advertising on al-Jazeera. One reason estimate its cost of operations. The esti- is the political rift that exists between Saudi mated fee for renting the use of satellite Arabia and Qatar, another is the dissatis- transponders is about $4 million; the cost faction of Saudi Arabia with the liberalism of producing programs must then be added. of al-Jazeera. It has aired programs in Production itself runs into tens of millions which Saudi dissidents and Arab intellectu- of dollars. The station has offices all over als attacked and criticized the Saudi regime the world; in mid-May 2000 it had 497 and its leaders. journalists, broadcasters and staff on the When al-Jazeera started to air pro- payroll. One can only agree with the grams, it gave a monopoly of its advertising specialists on the subject, who claim that business to a Saudi concern, al-Tuhama al-Jazeera could not function on less than Advertising Company. Relations between $40 million annually.24 However, if al- al-Jazeera and the Saudis deteriorated to Jazeera is still financially dependent on the the point that al-Tuhama, under pressure Qatari government, the director of its from the Saudi government, cancelled its administrative board, Shaikh Hamad Bin contract with al-Jazeera in February 1999. Themir Al Thani, sees the end of this In January 2000 another company took dependency in the near future. He told me, over the advertising monopoly for al- “I expect that al-Jazeera will be able to Jazeera, Gulf Space International, based in finance itself in three or four years.”25 Dubai and Doha. Al-Jazeera has a case Al-Jazeera hopes, when it is financially pending in the Qatari courts against al- independent, to be incorporated as a Tuhama for breach of contract. In addition private company and to sell its stock to the to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait also discourages general public. Although this is a legitimate its citizens from advertising on al-Jazeera, objective, it is difficult to see how al- for similar reasons.27 In contrast to major Jazeera could become a completely private TV channels in the United States, where enterprise, given its difficulties in raising programs are frequently interrupted by money from sources other than the Qatari commercials, ads on al-Jazeera are rare government. Al-Jazeera’s problems, and pass almost unnoticed. Today, al- however, are not merely financial; they are Jazeera broadcasts only 40 to 45 minutes also political. In the Middle East, the ability of advertising per day. to attract advertising is related to the satisfaction of relevant governments, the HOW GOOD IS AL-JAZEERA? main advertisers on satellite TV. Al- The degree of praise and admiration Jazeera has less advertising than other that al-Jazeera has received has given way stations, such as the Lebanese LBC or to almost the same degree of criticism. MBC or the al-Mustaqbil TV channel. Some people believe that while al-Jazeera Most of the TV advertising in the Persian criticizes everyone else, it rarely criticizes

bahry88-99.p65 95 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM MIDDLE EAST POLICY, VOL. VIII, NO. 2, JUNE 2001

the Qatari government or Qatari leader- people see it as a tool, exploiting divisions ship. In interviews with Qatari officials, this in the Arab world, increasing regionalism, point arose more than once. The reply and diverting Arabs from their identity. In was always the same: Al-Jazeera has, on this vein, one viewer has written: many occasions, criticized Qatari officials and foreign policies, even ministers in the The Arab atmosphere today is more Qatari government.28 In order to empha- susceptible to divisions and contra- size their independence from the Qatari dictions. These contradictions work to government, officials at al-Jazeera point to strengthen the frontiers among Arab a play given in a Qatari theater in 1999, countries, and any new frontiers will work against a unified Arab identity in Amjad Ya Arab (Glories, Oh Arabs). In favor of regionalism. Al-Jazeera talk this play there was sharp criticism of the shows are spreading animosities and government. The play was so successful feelings of revenge between one Arab that the emir of Qatar personally came to and his brother-Arab. As a result the theater to view it and afterward met these two Arabs will be divided after with the players and shook their hands.29 certain talk shows between supporters Not everyone is convinced. During a crisis of this or that Arab country, because between Tunisia and Qatar in May 2000 of people who are guests of this or 32 over an al-Jazeera program that attacked that talk show. the Tunisian government, a leading Tunisian newspaper, al-Sabah, questioned the Between May 8 and 9, 2000, al- “independence” of the station: Jazeera organized a special, closed seminar in Doha to evaluate its performance. If al-Jazeera TV channel really believes Several top officers of al-Jazeera and in freedom in general and freedom of guests from Qatar and abroad attended by expression in particular, why has it not invitation. Although not very much was mentioned, even once, the fact that published about the viewpoints expressed, dish antennas are banned in Qatar? it appears that several participants accused Why has it not mentioned that citizens al-Jazeera of looking for sensationalism and residents of Qatar can only use and exaggerating situations. Al-Jazeera cable television that transmits a few was accused of describing or reporting channels selected and approved only things that never took place in a way that by the Qatari authorities?30 made it seem as though they really happened. These critics accused al-Jazeera of Another criticism is that al-Jazeera, as manipulating events and choosing images a TV station, uses Western news agencies and footage that distorted the facts.33 and Western standards. Some people claim Finally, some people point to many talk that this leads to alienation from Arab shows in which the guests use abusive and society by offering programs that are not even insulting language against each other. part of Arab culture, such as fashion In some cases guests engage in shouting shows and programs on makeup and the matches that leave the viewer unable to use of perfume.31 Al-Jazeera tries to follow the debate or understand what is promote itself as an inter-Arab TV station, being said.34 a unifying force for Arabs. But some

bahry88-99.p65 96 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM BAHRY: QATAR’S AL-JAZEERA

CONCLUSION belonging to Rifaat al-Asad, the uncle of Several factors have contributed to the Syrian President Bashar al-Asad. phenomenal success of al-Jazeera. First, it It is possible that the example of al- is not simply a satellite TV channel. In the Jazeera has caused some Arab countries Arab world it has become the news itself, to start rethinking their policies toward as people and the press discuss almost freedom of the media. At the beginning of daily its programs and the effect they have. this year, Egypt, for example, opened a The official logo of al-Jazeera, al-rai wa “Media Free Zone” near Cairo, where rai al-akar (the opinion and the opposite foreign TV stations can broadcast what- opinion) has started to become a political ever they wish without any censorship slogan, accepted by many Arabs, in favor from the Egyptian government. Al-Jazeera of respecting the beliefs and ideas of seized the opportunity and in March 2000 others and discussing them peacefully. Its opened a major office in the zone after success, therefore, is primarily due to the signing an agreement with the Egyptian unlimited freedom the station exercises in government. There is also talk about comparison with other Arab TV stations. opening a media free zone in Jordan, and in There are very few red lines in its pro- October 2000 Yemen announced its gramming, reporting and commentary. intention to follow suit.35 Second, the station has a unique collection The success and expanding influence of capable and experienced Arab journal- of al-Jazeera, however, is limited by the ists, broadcasters and staff. Most speak fact that it is a satellite TV station. People perfect English as well as Arabic. This have to pay for cable TV, if such facilities helps explain the dynamic and efficient exist in their country. This excludes the way al-Jazeera is managed, a far cry from large segment of the population who the usual Arab bureaucratic lethargy. cannot afford to pay the fees. As for al- Third, al-Jazeera was the first Arab TV Jazeera’s plans for the future, one is a station to introduce major innovations in second channel exclusively devoted to broadcasting and reporting. This has built documentaries. The second is a special an ever-increasing number of faithful and channel in English that will transform it into enthusiastic viewers. an international TV channel. Other Arab TV stations are beginning Is al-Jazeera simply a round-the-clock to open up, trying to introduce programs news station, or does it have a special comparable to those on al-Jazeera. Even message it wants to convey to the Arab conservative Saudi Arabian TV has started people? In response to this question, the to be more open. Several Arab countries head of the board of directors of al- have launched their own satellite TV Jazeera, Shaikh Hamad Bin Themir Al stations, including Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt and Thani responded, “Sure! Yes! The mes- Syria. Abu Dhabi also has an increasingly sage of al-Jazeera is to get Arab specta- successful satellite TV station. The only tors and Arab regimes accustomed to other TV station in Arabic that is seriously hearing the opinions of all parties, and challenging al-Jazeera is the Middle East especially the opposing ones. This is a Boadcasting Corporation (MBC), followed mission by itself in contemporary Arab by Arab News Network (ANN), the latter history.”36

bahry88-99.p65 97 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM MIDDLE EAST POLICY, VOL. VIII, NO. 2, JUNE 2001

Al-Jazeera’s relations with the Qatari minister, Hamad Bin Jasim Bin Jabr Al government require some reflection. Thani. Any serious domestic political Although al-Jazeera claims that it is change in Qatar, such as instability in the independent, it is clear that this indepen- ruling family or even a change of govern- dence has its limits. It rarely criticizes the ment – though currently unexpected, always government, and then only timidly. Al- a possibility – would impact al-Jazeera. Jazeera cannot be too independent as long Without strong support from the emir and as the Qatari government pays its bills. On political will to continue this media experi- the other hand, the Qatari government ment, al-Jazeera could fall prey to external allows al-Jazeera a high degree of indepen- pressure to curtail its aggressive style. Over dence in programming that has nothing to time, such pressure could leave it weak- do with Qatar. ened; this would result in a loss of its appeal However, if circumstances appear to be to Arabs outside of Qatar. A new and going in al-Jazeera’s direction, a word of different leader could even close al-Jazeera, caution is necessary. In reality, al-Jazeera saving himself and the Qatari government a still stands on somewhat shaky ground. It continuous source of trouble. That would remains completely dependent, financially be a serious loss for media freedom and the and otherwise, on the emir of Qatar, Hamad potential for a more open Arab society that Bin Khalifah Al Thani, and his foreign this experiment represents.

1 David Hir, “The Television Studio Arab Leaders Hate the Most,” Chicago Tribune, April 9, 2000. 2 For a more detailed study of the elections to the Municipal Council, see Louay Bahry, “Elections in Qatar,” Middle East Policy, Vol. 6, No. 4, June 1999, pp. 118-127. 3 Louay Bahry, “A Qatari Spring,” Middle East Insight, Vol. 15, No. 3, September-October 2000, pp. 39-44. 4The Qataris had been thinking about introducing a new type of TV broadcast even earlier. In January 1996, Qatari TV offered a sort of prototype for al-Jazeera, when two leading opposition figures from Bahrain publicly expressed views against the Bahrain government. This program was perceived as a dramatic innovation in Bahrain and elsewhere in the Gulf. It was the first time that a TV program in any GCC country had expressed criticism of the government of a member state. The two debaters were Dr. Mansur al-Jamri and Shaikh Ali Salman, then both living in exile in London. 5 Interview with Shaikh Hamad Bin Thamir Al Thani, chairman of the Board of Directors of al-Jazeera, Doha, May 15, 2000. 6 Edmund Ghareeb, “New Media and the Information Revolution in the Arab World,” Middle East Journal, Vol. 54, No. 3, Summer 2000, p. 405. 7 The BBC had been receiving 100 million Saudi riyals ($26.66 million) a year from the Saudi government. Eliminating this subsidy was a considerable blow to the BBC. 8 Khalij News, Abu Dhabi, April 16, 2000. 9 The name al-Jazeera was chosen “because it means the peninsula (al-Jazirah-l-Arabiyyah), . . . of which Qatar is an important part” (interview with Shaikh Hamad Bin Thamir, Doha, May 15, 2000). 10 Al-Jazeera has offices in Tehran, Baghdad, Ramallah, Cairo, Kabul, Sanaa, Khartum, Moscow, Paris, London and Washington, DC. The most important office abroad is London (Called Studio Number 2), which is staffed with some 25 employees (interview with Salah Najim, Doha, May 15, 2000). Salah Najim is head of programs at al-Jazeera. 11 Faisal al-Qasim told this author that there are more people watching al-Jazeera in North Africa than in the Persian Gulf. 12 In a recent example of this recognition, The Washington Post referred to al-Jazeera as its source in reporting on an Israeli military raid on a stronghold of the Islamic Palestinian group, HAMAS. The attack took place in Nablus, on the West Bank (The Washington Post, August 27, 2000).

bahry88-99.p65 98 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM BAHRY: QATAR’S AL-JAZEERA

13 Interview with Abd Allah Ibrahim al-Haj, assistant general manager, al-Jazeera, Doha, May 16, 2000. 14 Interview with Faisal al-Qasim, Doha, May 8, 2000. 15 Ahmad Jawad, “The Direction that is no Longer Opposite,” al-Hayat (London), September 25, 2000. 16 Faisal al-Qasim interview. 17 Ahmad Jawad, “The Direction that is no Longer Opposite,” al-Hayat, September 25, 2000. 18 Faisal al-Qasim interview. 19 The program, “al-Ittijah al-Muakis,” is the subject of at least two books in Arabic, both of them by a Saudi university professor, Dr. Sulaiman Jazia al-Shammari. The first is Burnamaj al-Ittijah al-Muakis [The Opposite Direction Program] (Doha: Dar al-Sharq, 1998). The second is al-Buad al-Qawmi fil Qannat al- Jazeera [The National Dimension in al-Jazeera Channel] (Doha: Dar al-Sharq, 1999). 20 Dr. al-Qardhawi is a well known Sunni scholar advocating modern, flexible, Islamic ideas, and he has many followers in the Arab world. 21 Ehud Yaari, http://www.JerusalemReport.Com, “The Al-Jazeera Revolution,” March 23, 2000. 22 One of al-Jazeera’s officials told this author that one Arab ambassador told him that he is not the ambassador to Qatar but the ambassador to al-Jazeera, due to the frequency of his visits to the station. Another told the same source that even while he is presenting an official protest to al-Jazeera, he personally agrees with what al-Jazeera is saying about his country and encourages the station to continue to broadcast in all frankness. 23 Interview with Abd al-Aziz Ibrahim al-Mahmud, editor-in-chief, al-Sharq, Doha, May 3, 2000. 24 Jon Alterman, New Media, New Politics: From Satellite Television to the Internet in the Arab World (Washington, DC: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy) 1998, p. 16. 25 Interview with Shaikh Hamad Bin Thamir Al Thani, head, Board of Directors, al-Jazeera, Doha, May 15, 2000. 26 Saudi Arabia now controls a network of Arabic newspapers and magazines. It controls advertisements and press agencies. All this gives Saudi Arabia advantages in controlling the advertising industry in the Arab world. 27 Interview with Ali Kamal, director of marketing, al-Jazeera, Doha, May 16, 2000. 28 An example was criticism by al-Jazeera of Israeli participation in the Economic Summit Conference held in Doha in November 1997. 29 Abd Allah al-Haj interview. 30 Al-Zaman (Arabic daily), London, May 15, 2000, p. 3. 31 Edmund Ghareeb, “New Media,” p. 410. 32 Husni Abu al-Maali, al-Quds al-Arabi (London), June 16, 1999. 33 Al-Watan (Qatari daily), Doha, May 9, 2000. 34 Interview with Dr. Ahmad Abd al-Malik, professor of communications, Qatar University, Doha, May 13, 2000. 35 The whole concept of such a zone came under severe pressure when the Egyptian information minister attacked al-Jazeera’s coverage of the Arab Summit Conference in Cairo, held in October 2000, and Egypt’s policy during and following the conference. The minister stated: “Al-Jazeera is launching a demogogic attack against Egypt . . . and I am considering certain steps, such as cutting all ties with al-Jazeera, including its studios and its correspondents . . . . I hope I will not have to take such measures.” Al-Quds al-Arabi (London), October 27, 2000. 36 Shaikh Hamad Bin Thamir Al Thani interview.

bahry88-99.p65 99 5/1/2001, 12:13 PM