2012: “Deadliest Year for Journalists”

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By Zainab Sultan 

Tunisian demonstrators hold a mock TV set bearing jail bars during a protest calling for the release of Sami Fehri, jailed boss of the Ettounsiya TV channel.

This report takes a look at some of the countries in the Middle East and some parts of Africa where press freedom violations occurred most frequently this year.

As protests swept across the Arab world since 2011, with regimes being toppled and countless people losing their lives to defend freedom, media professionals in these countries became victims of the war between the ruled and the rulers.

According to media watchdogs, 2012 has been the deadliest year for journalists as a record number of media professionals were killed during this year, with the Middle East being worst hit due to the ongoing Syrian conflict.

Here we take a look at some of the countries in the Middle East and some parts of Africa where press freedom violations occurred most frequently this year.   

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES-GAZA

Media in Gaza was deliberately targeted during the Israeli offensive in November, which cost the lives of 177 Gazans and 6 Israelis.

The DCMF has condemned the recent attacks on journalists in Gaza, which have resulted in three journalists being killed and at least nine others being injured.  Numerous media offices and headquarters have been deliberately attacked by Israeli military operations, and DCMF’s office in Gaza has also been damaged in the recent bombardments.

In its defence, Israel said that some media facilities were being used by militants.

A delegation of officials from DCMF recently conducted a visit to Gaza to witness the damage caused to journalists and media institutions which were hit during the recent military operation, and to reiterate its commitment to support press freedom there.

According to the DCMF’s office in Gaza, at least 10 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces since 2008, and no convictions have been made in any of the cases, despite numerous investigations.

Director of the DCMF Gaza office, Adel Zaanoun explained:

“The situation for journalists in Gaza is very difficult.  Journalists have to wear flak jackets and they are always in danger.  The situation is very complicated and journalists face violations from both sides, from the Israeli forces and also from the Palestinian Authority.

When the Israeli forces kill journalists, there are usually investigations but no justice is ever served.  But we are still fighting for justice with human rights lawyer and we will do what we can.”

On the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity, DCMF Director Jan Keulen called on international governments and organisations to take action to ensure the safety of media workers in Gaza:

“Journalists play an essential role in covering the reality on the ground for citizens during times of conflict, and while there are risks involved with carrying out this work, it is a totally different proposition when journalists are being deliberately targeted by military operations.”

“The targeting of journalists is completely unacceptable and the centre is urging the Israeli authorities to put an end to this unjustified attack on media workers.  In conflict situations, journalists should be considered civilians, and not legitimate military targets.”

This week, the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip forbade local journalists from working with "hostile" Israeli media.

EGYPT

The future of the Egyptian media is uncertain even after the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak.

DCMF’s team was in Egypt covering local media’s role in Egypt’s presidential elections and assessing whether the media played a neutral role. DCMF witnessed the growing popularity of independent Egyptian media during the post-revolution era.

"State media died in January, 2011," said Naila Hamdy, Assistant Professor of Journalism at the American University in Cairo. "Despite attempts to gain credibility amongst the people of Egypt, I think they are failing to do so."

The new Muslim Brotherhood government led by President Morsi has come under attack several times from international groups as well as local media groups for harassment, threats and suspensions.

Local media has been in constant clashes with Morsi’s government due to controversial appointments of media heads who have close ties with the Islamist government. Earlier this month, several local newspapers rejected the draft constitution by refusing to print.

In an interview with DCMF, Yasser Abdel Aziz, an Egyptian journalist and media expert, discussed the impact of the draft constitution on the Egyptian media.

“It will affect media badly as it allows closure of media outlets according to court decisions, it does not prevent jailing journalists because of expressing their opinions, it calls for a commitment to national values and traditions, which is a disaster, and it proposes the creation of bodies to oversee the media but does not guarantee their independence.”

BAHRAIN

This tiny nation on the Arabian Peninsula has witnessed major political protests and demonstrations since February 2011.

Bahrain Centre for Human Rights recorded that journalists who tried reporting on human rights abuses were met with physical or judicial harassment as well as torture, while others simply go missing.  Moreover, over 60 journalists from pro-government newspapers were sacked, with none being reinstated so far.

The culture of impunity is so high in Bahrain that justice is rarely served.  Nazeeha Saeed, a  France 24 and Radio Monte Carlo Daouliya correspondent, filed a case against a female police officer for torture and mistreatment during interrogation. Saeed was warned by friends and family that she would not get anything out of the court trial, but she wanted to see justice served. In October 2012, the court acquitted all the charges against the female police officer.

Following the announcement of the acquittal, the Bahrain Press Association (BPA) made the following statement:

“The BPA expresses its deep concern and extreme shock for the promotion of a culture of impunity by the Bahraini regime, turning a deaf ear to all human rights undertakings and commitments which it stressed in front of the international community.

Ms Saeed's case of torture represents a good example of the human rights violations and the crimes against humanity faced by local and foreign media professionals at the hands of the Bahraini authorities…the ongoing violations have also led to the torture, trials, and dismissal of many journalists and media professionals on charges related to exercising freedom of expression.”

LIBYA

Doha Centre for Media Freedom launched an initiative in September 2011 committed to providing training to journalists, monitoring press freedom violations and assisting the drive towards an independent, sustainable and successful media.

DCMF will soon launch its flagship Ali Hassan Al Jaber Safety Training for Journalists programme, named after the Al Jazeera cameraman who became the first foreign journalist to be killed in the Libyan civil war in 2011. This training programme aims to provide comprehensive safety guidelines for journalists in the Arab region.

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day in Libya, DCMF and Small World News (SWN) joined forces to implement a series of video reporting training sessions in Libya.  This initiative focused on training video journalists to think about their message, the story they want to tell and then how they convey the film to the audience.

Despite all these changes, things in Libya are yet to calm down completely. In October 2012, private Libyan television station, Libya Al-Hurra, in Benghazi was attacked by angry protestors who also set fire to an office.

SOMALIA

This nation in the Horn of Africa is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists and media workers.

Throughout 2012, journalists have been killed at a rate of more than one a month. DCMF recorded 18 murders this year alone and almost none of the criminals have been prosecuted. Journalists are usually caught in the propaganda war between the government and militia groups such as Al Shabaab.

The alarming rate at which journalists are being murdered in Somalia has prompted media organisations to urge Somalian authorities to end the cycle of impunity by punishing those responsible for these killings.

In an interview with DCMF, Secretary general of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Mohammed Ibrahim, called for an end to impunity:

“We are appalled by the continued assassinations of members of the media community in Somalia and that every other day a journalist or a media worker is being killed. This does not only need a mere condemnation but needs a real commitment by the Federal government of Somalia to protecting the media community and investigating crimes against the members of the media community including targeted assassinations and death threats.

“We need real protection from our government and a commitment to ending the impunity, which is meant to silence the media.  Unless the government takes action in launching investigations into the murders against the journalists, it seems that the criminals are going to win.”

DCMF has been working with NUSOJ to provide financial, medical and legal assistance to local journalists. DCMF has provided more assistance to journalists from Somalia than any other country.

SUDAN

As a fresh “Sudan Spring” was unraveling in this African nation in June this year, more than 1,000 activists and demonstrators were arrested and hundreds of others were injured in political protests that swept the nation.

Anti-regime demonstrations that were inspired by Arab Spring protests which began on Jan 30, 2011 were brutally crushed by the government. Moreover, they also died down due to Sudan's separation later in the year. However, similarly to those which took place last year, 2012’s protests faced a heavy crackdown by the Sudanese authorities.

The year of 2012 has been bleak for press freedom in Sudan due to countless arrests, detentions, deportations, closures of newspapers and brutal torture faced by media activists and journalists.

According to DCMF, five newspapers were seized by the government in June alone. Local newspaper, Al Midan’s circulation was blocked 13 times within the first quarter of the year. Three newspapers, Alwan, Al-Tayyar and Rai Al-Shaab, were closed and many others were blocked for an indefinite period of time. 

Confiscating newspapers after printing is a common tactic used by Sudan's security service which results in heavy financial losses for the newspapers and sometimes leaves the outlets with no choice but to shut down their businesses.

DCMF condemns the repressive actions taken by the Sudanese government against journalists and media organisations in Sudan, and urges the authorities to stop imposing distortion of the media, withholding of facts and silencing of the critical dissenting voices.

SYRIA

Syria has witnessed one of the bloodiest revolutions for journalists, with the highest number ever of media workers being killed in 2012. Assad’s regime has made it impossible for professional journalists to enter the country since the outbreak of the revolution, but this hasn’t stopped Syrians from playing the role of citizen journalists and media activists to continue showing the reality of the Syrian war.  

DCMF has been documenting the killings of journalists, media activists and citizen journalists since the beginning of anti-regime protests in March 2011. The centre has compiled a death toll which now stands at 92, with Abu Yezen al-Hamoui, a local Syrian journalist working with an Al Jazeera crew, being the latest victim.

DCMF has repeatedly called for regime and rebel forces to put an end to the targeting of journalists and media workers in Syria. It has also been successful in providing financial assistance to many journalists in Syria. DCMF wrote an open letter to the President of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Moaz Al-Khatib, urging him to respect press freedom and highlighting the importance of protecting journalists.

The letter stated:

“The Doha Centre for Media Freedom strongly condemns in the strongest possible manner these shocking facts and figures which are unfortunately making Syria the most dangerous country for journalists. A bold violation of international human rights has been demonstrated and freedom of expression is deteriorating.”

On the occasion of International Day to End Impunity, DCMF’s Director Jan

Keulen said:

“Immense courage has been displayed by local and foreign reporters covering events in Syria; they have shown bravery and commitment during these dark times, and their work has helped the world understand the situation in Syria. We condemn, in the strongest possible manner, the brutal killings of these journalists.”

TUNISIA

DCMF has been following the development of the Tunisian media following the revolution that ousted strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

In our special report, DCMF focused on the strained relationship between the newly elected government of President Moncef Marzouki and the media.

The last few months have been turbulent for the Tunisian media because of the constant clashes between the government and journalists. The closure of the independent media authority, strikes, censorship, arrests and brutal attacks on journalists  meant that the dream of  a free Tunisian press began to seem even more distant.

A major blow to the Tunisian media was when the country’s parliament approved amendments to a new press code that restricts free speech. One of the most controversial articles in the draft constitution is Article 3 as it blankets censorship under the name of attacking “the sacred,” but fails to provide a clear definition of what is constituted by the term. Later in October, National Constituent Assembly speaker, Mustapha Ben Jaafer, said that after the three ruling parties had discussed the law, they had decided to drop the new restrictions against the “sacred.”

The presence of independent media was virtually non-existent under Ben Ali’s regime but recent appointments such as the posting of Lotfi Touati as head of the Tunisian media agency, Dar Assabah has disappointed and angered many local journalists.  Dozens of journalists went on a strike protesting Touati’s appointment because they don’t consider him to be the right choice due to his close association with the current ruling Ennahda party.

DCMF echoed its calls for a separation between editorial and political appointments as well as a guaranteed free media.

"The centre insists that representatives of journalists and civil society should be involved in providing nominations for public media appointments.  The new government in Tunisia seems to be operating with an old mindset, similar to its predecessor, as far as controlling state media is concerned, and DCMF urges them to adopt a new strategy in this regard."

YEMEN

In a special report, DCMF explored Yemen’s post revolution media development, discovering that the poorest nation in the Arabian Peninsula is undergoing a vibrant transformation in its media landscape.

The revolution has given birth to numerous private radio stations and around 11 Yemeni satellite channels which have sprung up in the last two years. The number of Facebook subscribers from Yemen has doubled at least since 2010 reaching 462,160 in a country where internet penetration is less than 3 percent.

Nadia Al-Sakkaf is the editor in chief of The Yemen Times independent newspaper and radio. She is also a member of the preparatory committee for the National Dialogue Conference leading the way for Yemen's political transition.

She describes the “press in Yemen post the revolution is something like Alice in Wonderland; new unexplored opportunities, lots of temptations, no traditional rules, new risks and unknown threats.”

Despite all of these positive outcomes, many journalists in the post-Saleh era face same amount of intimidation, arrests and torture by authorities for challenging the government through their writing.

The detention of Abdulelah Haider Shaye, a Yemeni journalist held in prison for the last two-and-half years on charges of unveiling secret information related to the war on terror, harnessed worldwide attention and highlighted the plight of Yemeni journalists who report on government activities.

Freedom Foundation, a Yemen based press freedom group, recorded 112 violations against journalists and media professionals between July and September this year.

Source: Doha Centre for Media Freedom: http://www.dc4mf.org/