CAIRO: Activists and media professionals expressed their disapproval of Arab ministers’ call to ‘regulate’ satellite television, but remained skeptical of the effectiveness of such a regulation.
The Arab League has voted in favor of a document to regulate Arab satellite television and prohibits offending their regime. Egypt was one of countries who led the initiative, along with Saudi Arabia.
After a meeting called by Egypt on Tuesday Feb. 12, information ministers of the 22-member Arab League, with the exception of Qatar, voted to adopt the document, which calls for stations “not to offend the leaders or national and religious symbols of Arab countries.
Media that break the regulations imposed by the document face the withdrawal of work permits. One of the potential media victims of this new law is expected to be talk shows, which provide an open forum for criticism of political regimes. “Some channels have strayed from the correct path, announced Anas Al-Fiqi, Egypt’s Minister of Information,
Films which potentially offend religious sensibilities are also expected to be restricted to “conform with the religious and ethical values of Arab society and take account of its family structure.
The document stipulates that broadcasters should avoid “erotic or obscene material or programs that “encourage smoking or the consumption of alcohol.
They should also “protect Arab identity from the harmful effects of globalization.
Samir Abdulrady of Al-Masry Al-Youm and popular Egypt independent talk-show “90 minutes told Daily News Egypt, “This is a clear attempt by the Egyptian regime to circumscribe and suffocate Egyptian media, especially the most popular ones. It’s an attempt to heavily control the satellite channels behind the guise of what they call social peace. There’s no doubt … they have [already] set their standards.
“If there is a demonstration in Abdel Moneim Riyadh square, for example, they may not allow it to be spoken about in the name of social peace, or for example strife between Muslims and Christians, they can now stop the media speaking about it or for the sake of what they call social peace or the security of the state.
However, there are those that think these regulations will not affect let alone circumscribe freedom of expression in Egypt. Samy Diab and Ahmad Sha’aban, both researchers at the Ibn Khaldoun Center for Political Research, are confident that despite legal stipulations contained in the Cairo document, this will not hinder the development of freedom of expression in Egypt.
“This time of year is the period when Arab states regularly get together and discuss issues they find pressing, and this year is no different. But this decision, this document, is unlikely to be successful in terms of its ambitions, said Samy Diab, who is also founder of the movement Arabs without Borders and campaigner for the Bloggers Union.
“Everyone refuses this type of censorship. Diab added, “There is no way that things can return to the way they used to be, because people, as well as technology, have progressed and moved forward. If they ban certain channels, then it will only be a matter of time before others spring up to take their place.
“This is a flash in the pan, said Shaaban, “and where satellite channels may be temporarily restricted, blogging is still progressing and has already broken huge boundaries. The idea behind what they are trying to achieve is essentially flawed because of the blogging community. However, of course, it is entirely unacceptable and it won’t be accepted.
“As for programs and films that may be seen as offending religion, that is also unacceptable. The values of Islamic religion give people the freedom to choose. Films should come with guidelines with age restrictions but an adult should be respected with the [right] to choose what they want to watch. Qatar said it was “still studying the document but added that it did not “currently want to adopt it for legal rather than political reasons.
