Press Releases

02/04/08

Media watchdog says Middle East governments have tightened control over media

By SALAH NASRAWI
Associated Press Writer

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) _ Autocratic governments in the Middle East combined periodic crackdowns with cosmetic media reforms last year to maintain their control over the press, an international media watchdog said Monday.

In its annual survey on world press freedom, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said reporters have been sentenced to prison for critical writing, despite promises of reform by Mideast regimes.

"Arab governments have had success in keeping independent journalists at heel by stunting media development or by chipping away at press gains through periodic crackdowns," said the report released in Cairo on Monday.

"Arab governments have also manipulated the media reform process. Regimes from Egypt to Yemen touted cosmetic amendments to media laws that have long been used to control journalism," it said.

Arab regimes have also relied on licensing to maintain control over a growing number of private media outlets that often engage in self-censorship for fear of persecution, said an official from the media watchdog.

"Licensing goes to those who are close to the governments," said Joel Campagna, the group's Middle East coordinator. "In those countries where the rules of law are weak, the private media cannot work independently."

The organization said Iraq remained the world's most dangerous place for reporters for the fifth consecutive year, with at least 32 journalists and 12 media support staffers killed in 2007 -- raising the total to 174 from both groups killed since the U.S. invasion in 2003.

"The vast majority of victims continued to be Iraqis, most of whom were singled out by armed groups and murdered with impunity," the report said.

It said U.S. military forces in Iraq have harassed journalists with raids on newspaper offices and the press syndicate. The report also noted the continued detention of Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein, who was detained by U.S. forces in April 2006.

The report also called Iran the world's fourth leading jailer of journalists in 2007 and said the government had one journalist on death row.

In Egypt, the report highlighted a government crackdown against the press to suppress speculation about the health of 79-year-old President Hosni Mubarak. One prominent independent newspaper editor faces charges related to the crackdown.

The group was also critical of conditions for Palestinian journalists who have been intimidated by both Israel and rival Palestinian groups.

"A bitter power struggle between the Palestinian Hamas and Fatah left journalists vulnerable to harassment and attack with slaying of two local media workers," the report said.

The group reported attacks against journalists by Israeli forces using tear gas and stun grenades.

"Over the course of the year, Israeli forces raided several Palestinian televisions and radio stations in the West Bank and confiscated equipment during military operations," the report said.

In Syria, Yemen, Sudan and Tunisia, journalists have also been subject to restrictions, the report said, adding that Morocco had experienced "a downward slide" in press freedom after a period of significant liberty.

"It is crystal clear that press freedom is in retreat everywhere in the Arab world," said Gamal Fahmi, of the Egyptian Press Syndicate, which hosted the release of the report Monday.