Media manipulation and the power of suggestion

On February 12, information ministers from 21 of the 22 countries in the Arab League signed a charter titled “Suggested guidelines and principles for organizing satellite television in the Arab world.” Many say, however, that the “guidelines” are a tool to stifle freedom of speech in a part of the world where human rights are often overlooked.

At Egypt’s request, the charter was added to a special summit of Arab information ministers held in Cairo in February. It demands signatory countries apply its content to all existing and future agreements with TV stations, including those established in free zones.

Although state television stations are already subject to national authorities, pan-Arab satellite stations such as Al Jazeera, LBC, and Al Arabiya have enjoyed a freedom of speech on which they have built their popularity and often their editorial policy. Al Jazeera has been famously critical of Arab regimes including Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Both these countries have historically maintained a tight hold on domestic media, and both were instrumental in getting the charter to the table.

With more than 400 stations broadcast throughout the Middle East and more on the way, Arab satellite transmission might benefit from some organization and restructuring, but what has sparked dismay and outrage is what some in the regional media community are calling the “loose nature” of the charter’s provisions and its not-so-hidden intents.

The text states that satellite television must not offend leaders or national and religious symbols in the Arab world. It must not broadcast material that may incite violence or damage social harmony, national unity, public order or traditional values. It must conform to the religious and ethical values of Arab society, taking into account its traditional family structure. It must refrain from broadcasting anything that calls into question God, the monotheistic-religions or the prophets, sects or symbols of the various religious communities.

If these restrictions are breached, the document carries penalties and sanctions, from simple warnings to the confiscation of material and equipment, financial punishments and even the permanent cancellation of offending stations’ broadcast permits.

It is unclear whether or not these provisions and sanctions bind local authorities, and how they are supposed to be implemented. Kuwaiti Information Minister Sheikh Subah Al Khaled Ahmad Al Subah says the charter is “a non-binding document,” but for Egyptian Information Minister Anas Al Faqhi, “The charter is binding for all the Arab countries.”

Not all ministers of information signed the treaty without voicing their reservations, although only Qatar, the home of the Al Jazeera network, abstained from voting (for “legal reasons”). Lebanon’s Ghazi Aridi signed, but later told Al Jazeera that the charter is non-binding and that Lebanon’s parliament would have to agree to its provisions if they were ever to come into effect.

In Egypt, by contrast, the charter has been sent to Media Production City and to the Nile Sat company to be added to existing broadcasting agreements. Egyptian information minister Anas Al Faqhi has declared that the charter will apply to any future agreements with satellite TV channels wishing to use Egypt as their headquarters, open a bureau there, or even have a correspondent there.

Predictably, the document has generated a wave of reprobation in the Arab world and beyond. “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,” Wadah Khanfar, director general of the Al Jazeera network says in a statement. “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.”

First seen at www.communicate.ae