Arab journalists urge more freedom.10/26/2009 2:41:12 PM Arab journalists have deplored media censorship censorship, official prohibition or restriction of any type of expression believed to threaten the political, social, or moral order. It may be imposed by governmental authority, local or national, by a religious body, or occasionally by a powerful private group. in their countries and called for greater freedom at a gathering held in the Qatari capital, Doha, to discuss freedom of speech in the region. The two-day forum that ended on Monday was organised by Al Jazeera's Public Liberties andamp; Human Rights department in co-operation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). Speakers condemned con·demn tr.v. con·demned, con·demn·ing, con·demns 1. To express strong disapproval of: condemned the needless waste of food. 2. tight censorship in Arab countries and blamed a censorship culture for poorly educated societies and generations ignorant of their rights and duties. However, they hailed modern technologies including the internet, saying they gave people a certain amount of freedom. Arab governments blamed Nidal Mansour, the head of the Center for Defending Journalists, accused Arab regimes of not complying with their constitutions. He said: "If we look at the constitution of each Arab country, we would find the most beautiful phrases that hail and promote the freedom of speech. However, on the ground none of that is practiced. We have hundreds of Arab journalists killed, injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. , jailed or humiliated hu·mil·i·ate tr.v. hu·mil·i·at·ed, hu·mil·i·at·ing, hu·mil·i·ates To lower the pride, dignity, or self-respect of. See Synonyms at degrade. in their countries every year." While many speakers blamed Arab governments for making the suppression of freedom of speech a priority, several others suggested that the Arab public should also take part of the blame. Ahmed al-Sheikh, a news director at Al Jazeera's Arabic channel, blamed Arab people for loosing their freedom of speech. He said: "We know there are a lot of wrongdoings when it comes to the freedom of speech in the Arab world “Arab States” redirects here. For the political alliance, see Arab League. The Arab World (Arabic: العالم العربي; Transliteration: al-`alam al-`arabi) stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the . But let us ask who was responsible for that? "I think we have ended up where we are now, because we have forgotten how to get angry for our rights. We forgot how to be enthusiastic getting our voice heard. I am not saying Arab people should revolt REVOLT, crim. law. The act of congress of April 30, 1790, s. 8, 1 Story's L. U. S. 84, punishes with death any seaman who shall lay violent hands upon his commander, thereby to hinder or prevent his fighting in defence of his ship, or goods committed to his trust, or shall make a revolt against their governments, but they must learn how to show resentment in cases [where] their rights are confiscated con·fis·cate tr.v. con·fis·cat·ed, con·fis·cat·ing, con·fis·cates 1. To seize (private property) for the public treasury. 2. To seize by or as if by authority. See Synonyms at appropriate. adj. ." Reviving heritage Hasan al-Ajmi, a Sudanese journalist, argued that Arabs and Muslims should be the first to promote freedom of speech, because they knew it and practiced it centuries ago. He said: "If Arabs and their governments look into history, there are many examples that freedom of speech did exist in our part of the world centuries ago. "I recall the story of Umar bin al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph caliph Arabic khalifah (“deputy” or “successor”) Title given to those who succeeded the Prophet Muhammad as real or nominal ruler of the Muslim world, ostensibly with all his powers except that of prophecy. whose reign saw the Muslim army destroying two of the world's superpowers back then - the Sassanid and the Roman Empire. "This man was speaking in public and a simple woman stood up suddenly and said, 'O Umar, you are wrong'. After hearing her reason for saying that, he said to the public, Umar was wrong and the woman was absolutely right. It is a wonderful example of freedom of speech from our own history, why cannot we revive To renew. For example, revival is the act of renewing the legal force of a contract or debt, either by acknowledging it or by giving a new promise, when the contract or debt is no longer a sufficient foundation for a lawsuit because it is barred by the running of the Statute that heritage?" The participants at the Doha meeting ended the two-day workshop with recommendations to continue the fight for greater freedom of speech and political opinion. Aljazeera.net 2003 - 2009 Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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