.Arab Ministers Adopt Satellite TV Rules
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Arab governments have adopted new rules meant to rein in satellite television talk shows that have become forums for rollicking criticisms of Arab regimes and discussions of taboo topics.
The "Charter of Principles" approved this week by Arab information ministers is being viewed by the region's media circles as a concerted move to muzzle stations.
The charter prohibits criticism of Arab leaders and religious figures, warning in vague terms of the harm to social peace, national unity and public morals. It demands "adherence to objectivity, sincerity and respect to the dignity of the countries, nations and their national sovereignty."
The new rules allow countries to suspend, terminate or refuse to renew the licenses of TV network offices that violate them. Qatar, whose government funds the popular station Al-Jazeera, was the only nation of the 21 Arab states not to sign the charter.
"Some satellite channels have deviated from the right path," Egyptian Information Minister Anas el-Fiqi told the ministers who gathered in Cairo on Tuesday. "There are violations that have taken place, violations taking place around the clock, which require a serious stance."
It was not immediately clear how aggressively Arab governments will implement the charter, but TV journalists fear it means Arab governments will start cooperating with each other in applying pressure to the broadcasters.
Al-Jazeera said in a statement Friday that the charter was a "risk to the freedom of expression in the Arab world" and that its vague provisions could "could be interpreted to actively hinder independent reporting from the region."
Private satellite TV arose in the Arab world in the 1990s, breaking a broadcasting monopoly by states that enabled Mideast governments to control what goes on the air. They still have limits - Al-Jazeera never criticizes Qatar and the numerous private stations owned by Saudi investors, such as Al-Arabiya, are careful not to cross the kingdom's line.
Still, the dozens of stations directly criticize presidents and governments, bring rarely heard voices in debates on religion and deal with taboo social topics - in a way that may be common in the West but was not previously in the Arab world.
Talk shows have challenged authority, such as when Al-Jazeera's often raucous "The Opposite Direction" featured a discussion of police abuses in the Arab world. Or else they take on taboo topics, such as a call-in show on Lebanon's LBC that dealt with the controversial case of a Saudi woman who was gang-raped then sentenced to prison and whipping for mingling with a man to whom she wasn't related. The Saudi king later pardoned the woman.
Al-Jazeera has long faced complaints from Arab governments over criticism aired on the channel's newscasts and talk shows. Its offices have been shut down for periods of time in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Tunisia. One of its journalists was arrested in Egypt over a documentary on torture.
Call-in shows in particular are viewed by governments as potentially threatening or embarrassing, broadcasters say.
"Now any single individual can embarrass the government on TV," said Ahmed Moslemani, host of "The First Edition" on Dream TV. "These talk-shows were like a disaster to the government, because the public doesn't need opposition parties to voice their demands."
In the past month, Clock TV - owned by Lebanese and Libyan investors - canceled plans to start a new talk show called "Hour by Hour," after the Egyptian government objected to it, apparently because it feared it would become a new voice of criticism.
Khairi Ramadan, who was to host "Hour by Hour," called the charter a "huge step backward."
"Free speech in Egypt will not be the only victim here, it's the whole Arab world," said Ramadan. "There are serious fears of this charter and the bigger danger is to come."
MyWay
How about the "adherence to objectivity, sincerity and respect to the dignity of" "individuals". I never heard of the dignity of "nations", that's just code for dictator.
The "Charter of Principles" approved this week by Arab information ministers is being viewed by the region's media circles as a concerted move to muzzle stations.
The charter prohibits criticism of Arab leaders and religious figures, warning in vague terms of the harm to social peace, national unity and public morals. It demands "adherence to objectivity, sincerity and respect to the dignity of the countries, nations and their national sovereignty."
The new rules allow countries to suspend, terminate or refuse to renew the licenses of TV network offices that violate them. Qatar, whose government funds the popular station Al-Jazeera, was the only nation of the 21 Arab states not to sign the charter.
"Some satellite channels have deviated from the right path," Egyptian Information Minister Anas el-Fiqi told the ministers who gathered in Cairo on Tuesday. "There are violations that have taken place, violations taking place around the clock, which require a serious stance."
It was not immediately clear how aggressively Arab governments will implement the charter, but TV journalists fear it means Arab governments will start cooperating with each other in applying pressure to the broadcasters.
Al-Jazeera said in a statement Friday that the charter was a "risk to the freedom of expression in the Arab world" and that its vague provisions could "could be interpreted to actively hinder independent reporting from the region."
Private satellite TV arose in the Arab world in the 1990s, breaking a broadcasting monopoly by states that enabled Mideast governments to control what goes on the air. They still have limits - Al-Jazeera never criticizes Qatar and the numerous private stations owned by Saudi investors, such as Al-Arabiya, are careful not to cross the kingdom's line.
Still, the dozens of stations directly criticize presidents and governments, bring rarely heard voices in debates on religion and deal with taboo social topics - in a way that may be common in the West but was not previously in the Arab world.
Talk shows have challenged authority, such as when Al-Jazeera's often raucous "The Opposite Direction" featured a discussion of police abuses in the Arab world. Or else they take on taboo topics, such as a call-in show on Lebanon's LBC that dealt with the controversial case of a Saudi woman who was gang-raped then sentenced to prison and whipping for mingling with a man to whom she wasn't related. The Saudi king later pardoned the woman.
Al-Jazeera has long faced complaints from Arab governments over criticism aired on the channel's newscasts and talk shows. Its offices have been shut down for periods of time in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Tunisia. One of its journalists was arrested in Egypt over a documentary on torture.
Call-in shows in particular are viewed by governments as potentially threatening or embarrassing, broadcasters say.
"Now any single individual can embarrass the government on TV," said Ahmed Moslemani, host of "The First Edition" on Dream TV. "These talk-shows were like a disaster to the government, because the public doesn't need opposition parties to voice their demands."
In the past month, Clock TV - owned by Lebanese and Libyan investors - canceled plans to start a new talk show called "Hour by Hour," after the Egyptian government objected to it, apparently because it feared it would become a new voice of criticism.
Khairi Ramadan, who was to host "Hour by Hour," called the charter a "huge step backward."
"Free speech in Egypt will not be the only victim here, it's the whole Arab world," said Ramadan. "There are serious fears of this charter and the bigger danger is to come."
MyWay
How about the "adherence to objectivity, sincerity and respect to the dignity of" "individuals". I never heard of the dignity of "nations", that's just code for dictator.
posted by madtom at 5:04 PM
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