New Arab media charter seen as censorship tool

18/02/2008

A new charter to regulate satellite television networks adopted recently by Arab information ministers is under attack in the Maghreb. Critics see the measure as an attempt to censor Arab media and render political dissent impossible.

Jamel Arfaoui in Tunis contributed to this report – 18/02/08

[Getty Images] A meeting of Arab information ministers in Cairo adopted a new charter which would regulate satellite radio and television in an attempt to prevent broadcasts deemed offensive from reaching Arab regimes and society. Critics of the charter described it as a tool for censorship and a step backwards.

Endorsed in Cairo last Tuesday (February 12th) by Arab information ministers, a new charter called the "Regulation of Satellite Radio and Television Broadcasting in the Arab Region" banned "offending" Arab regimes and society.

The 13-clause document, co-authored by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, states that satellite media must bear the responsibility for protecting the supreme interests of Arab states. It also allows governments to withdraw or suspend the license of any channel that violates the rules set out in the document.

The proposed rules establish governing principles for political programmes, including one against what it dubs "incitement", and call for adherence to "respecting the dignity of states and avoiding any defamation of their leaders or national symbols."

The Arab ministers also imposed standards on transparency, guaranteeing the "audience's right to accurate information". Despite placing a ban on "offending" Arab regimes, the document advocates respecting freedom of expression and the principle of national sovereignty of each state. It said programming should conform to "religious and ethical values of Arab society" and should protect Arab identity from the "harmful effects of globalisation". Satellite channels must not "damage social harmony, national unity… or traditional values", the document said.

Though it was endorsed by a majority of Arab states, the agreement drew criticisms from both Lebanon and Qatar. Civil society groups throughout the Arab world have also spoken out against the new rules.

In a statement published February 14th, the Arab Committee for Human Rights (ACHR) strongly condemned the Cairo Charter, calling it an attempt to besiege satellite channels committed to the freedom of expression under the pretext of combating moral transgressions.

The statement claimed the document bears "clear indications as to the intention... of Arab regimes to confront the wave of criticism directed against them due to their corruption and their crackdown on individual and public freedoms."

The ACHR expressed its support for the Arab TV channels targeted by the resolution, and called on Arab civil society and journalist organisations to "actively stand up" against the policy it called an attempt "to return the Arab media sector to the era that was prevailing two decades ago before the revolution in satellite channels, worldwide web and unlimited media."

Magdi Daqqaq, editor-in-chief of Egyptian magazine Al Hilal, defended the new charter. In a statement to Aljazeera, Daqqaq said, "The Charter has its justifications, especially after many Arab satellite channels have crossed the line in terms of desecrating beliefs and inciting violence and hatred."

Progressive Democratic Party newspaper Al Mawkif ran an editorial on Friday by Tunisian journalist Rachid Kchena in which he called the charter a "new attack on the freedom of the press" intended to "silence the voices of freedom on satellite channels".

On the other hand, Khemais Khayati, a member of the Tunisian Journalists' Union's Freedoms Committee, said, "I fear the Charter may be a double-edged sword. Putting an end to the chaos is an important thing if the intentions are good."

Khayati told Magharebia he is concerned the new Charter may turn into "a stick to be used by Arab government to besiege the freedom of press."

A journalist in Tunisian state media who preferred to stay anonymous said, "I was personally surprised to see the decision. I was disappointed. Can we regress like that at a time when all the peoples of the world are moving forward? I think that they are closing the net on Arab journalists."