The Layalina Review
VOL. V NO. 9, April 10-April 27, 2009 "The law will muzzle the press, preventing honest reporting about the country's continuing financial crisis or about its rulers," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Its vague clauses and harsh fines will almost guarantee arbitrariness by government authorities and self-censorship by the media." As stated by the Associated Press, the media in the UAE, as in all Middle Eastern countries, tends to avoid reporting on anything that may irritate the government. However, once foreign news agencies entered the country, the government "promised to allow more press freedoms than in other countries of the region." Samer Muscati, the head of research for the UAE at Human Rights Watch, said, "We were hoping for a model media law (in the UAE) for others in the region to follow." The new proposed law is squashing this opportunity. The law has yet to be implemented; it was passed the Federal National Council, the UAE legislation, but has not been ratified by the UAE president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, reports the Financial Times. Many academics, journalists, human rights activists and lawyers are encouraging the president not to sign the draft into law. The bill now awaits cabinet and presidential approval in the Gulf Arab state, which does does not have a parliament, reports Reuters. "The draft law in its current form is obscure and violates many freedoms, gains and basic rights, and hinders free media and newspaper work in the country," a group of more than 100 civil society figures said in a petition to Sheikh Khalifa. If passed, organizations that have criticized the government or the royal family may be fined up to $1.35m, or Dh5m. Any member of the media who is charged as having misguided the public or "'harmed' the economy" may be fined up to $135,000, or Dh500,000, reports the Financial Times. According to Reuters, members of the media can also be fined for denigrating the president or any rulers or deputies of the seven emirates that compose the UAE, as well as for belittling the country's reputation or damaging UAE relations with other countries. The law also allows for the complete closure of newspapers if they receive an infraction. Human Rights Watch strongly opposed the new law, stating, "It is plagued with problems such as 'draconian fines' and 'harsh registration requirements.' The Committee to Protect Journalists is also against the law, claiming that it "restricts free speech and strengthens self-censorship among journalists," reports Press TV. Although Human Rights Watch opposes the law, it acknowledges that it is slightly better than the current, yet not highly enforced media law. For example, accused persons will be tried in court with the opportunity to appeal the verdict. The law also protects journalists from being required to reveal their sources. According to the Washington-based think tank Freedom House, the UAE is one of many Middle Eastern countries that tightly censor its media. Freedom House ranks every country in the Middle East and North Africa as having a "not free" media with the exception of Lebanon, Kuwait, Egypt and Israel, which in their terms is the only country that has a truly "free press."
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Related Stories Media Developments in the Gulf New Regulations Further Threaten Arab Satellite Television Recent Issues Vol. V No.8: 03/27-04/09, 2009 Vol. V No.7: 03/13-03/26, 2009 Vol. V No.6: 02/27-03/12, 2009
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