Arab nations push on broadcasting censorship

Website: Rapid TV News

For the past few years the backers of Arabsat and Nilesat have advocated an independent broadcasting regulator in the style of Ofcom or the FCC. An extraordinary meeting opened in Cairo on Jan 24 of the Arab League’s 22-member Information Ministers, and is addressing the problem.

Last month a US Congressional report stated bluntly that Arabsat and Nilesat should be considered “terror organisations” and that the satellite operators “incite violence” because of the contentious channels they carry.

We reported on Jan 3: “House law no. 2278, backed by Rep. Jesse Pelerakis and Democrat Joseph Crowley in May and passed by the House on December 8, urges the US administration to revise the nature of their relationship and assistance to states that provide satellite service for channels which are considered to incite violence against America.”

Now the Cairo meeting is urgently examining its options. Some two years ago Arabsat and Nilesat recommended the creation of a pan-regional Arab Media Commission, but not all of its member states backed the proposal. Qatar, home to Al Jazeera, was distinctly lukewarm on the suggestion.

On the pro side are political and economic heavyweights Egypt and Saudi Arabia while on the opposing camp is Lebanon’s Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar, which would likely be scrutinized by the new organization, as would Qatar-based Al-Jazeera.

Al-Aqsa, a Hamas station broadcast from the Gaza Strip and viewed as a terrorist organization by the US, also might be targeted.

However, not all are in favour: The influential Paris-based Reporters Without Borders says that a proposal to create a pan-Arab television regulator is a “disturbing” move that could lead to the censorship of broadcasts critical of Arab governments.

The proposal includes setting up the Office for Arab Satellite Television, a regional office to supervise satellite broadcasters in the region.

The International Press Institute is also wary, saying that efforts to engage in the kind of monitoring suggested is dangerous, particularly given the record of most, if not all, Arab Middle Eastern countries on press freedom.

Anthony Mills, Press Freedom Manager with the International Press Institute, speaking to The Media Line, said: “It’s an example of states in the Arab world using the notion of security to in fact monitor and stifle independent reporting. In particular not so long ago, there were efforts to get Arab countries to sign on to a convention that would in effect be a pledge to make sure that broadcasters could not insult Heads of States or attack other states’ security.”