Al Jazeera Lashes Out at New Arab Media Charter

DOHA/CAIRO, February 15: A new charter adopted by the Arab
League that allows for satellite channels to be punished for offending member
governments has raised the ire of Al Jazeera, which called the new regulations
a “risk to the freedom of expression in the Arab world.”

Earlier this week, the information ministers of the 22
members of the Arab League approved the new guidelines, with only
Qatar—where Al Jazeera is based—dissenting. Egypt and Saudi Arabia
have been the staunchest supporters of the charter, which calls on broadcasters
"not to offend the leaders or national and religious symbols" of Arab
countries, and they should “not damage social harmony, national unity, public
order or traditional values,” according to news agency AFP. League members can
“withdraw, freeze or not renew the work permits of media which break the
regulations.”

In a statement, Al Jazeera noted that “some of the language
contained within the Charter is ambiguous and could be interpreted to actively
hinder independent reporting from the region.”

Wadah Khanfar, the director general of the Al Jazeera
Network, stated: “Any code of ethics or governance for journalistic practices
should emerge, and be governed, from within the profession and not be imposed
externally by political institutions. Where codes of ethics are violated and
contraventions of journalistic practice occur, for defamation of character or
otherwise, there should be independent legal processes to resolve these issues.
The region has seen the recent emergence of many media institutions and every
attempt should be made not to hamper, but to facilitate, an environment to
encourage their independence and freedom.”

—By Mansha Daswani