B
Brendan R
New Member
what a disgrace if this goes through...
"UAE May Gag Media Amid Economic Woe, Scandals
Thursday, Jan 22, 2009
(This item was originally published Wednesday.)
By Mirna Sleiman
Of ZAWYA DOW JONES
DUBAI (Zawya Dow Jones)--The United Arab Emirates plans to crackdown on media freedoms amid a slew of bad headlines about the impact of the global financial crisis on the Persian Gulf state's economy and corporate scandals in Dubai.
A new 45-article law, which was introduced by the National Media Council, the government arm responsible for all media affairs, was presented to the country's Federal National Council to replace the 28-year-old Publications Law.
"The new laws do nothing to advance the cause of press freedom in the U.A.E.," said Frank Kane, former business editor of the U.K.'s Observer newspaper who is now based as an independent media consultant in the U.A.E. "Business journalism is especially constrained by the restrictions on coverage of economic and financial news."
The law, which is still at draft stage, will introduce a system of fines, ranging from 50,000 U.A.E. dirhams ($13,600) to AED1 million, for damaging the country's reputation or its economy, according to a copy of the legislation published in local media Wednesday.
Cracking down on press freedoms follows a sharp slowdown in the country's economy and a series of negative headlines about the effects of the world financial crisis and corporate scandals involving top executives in banks and real-estate companies in Dubai, the U.A.E.'s commercial and tourism hub.
An Abu Dhabi government official with close knowledge of the legislation played down concerns that it would crimp media freedoms when called Wednesday.
Under the new draft laws publishing any information that's deemed to damage "the country's reputation or harms its economy" will be prohibit.
"News agencies and reporters need not to worry as long as they're doing a professional job," said Abdulatif Al Sayegh, chief executive officer at government-owned Arab Media Group, which publishes newspapers and owns local radio stations.
The U.A.E. government also plans to fine journalists up to AED200,000, or about $55,000, if they name suspects under investigation in the emirate, according to the draft. However, the law protects journalists from imprisonment for carrying out their duties.
Article 31 of the new legislation sets a maximum fine of AED1 million for criticizing the ruling family.
"The law prohibits the publication of names and pictures of the accused in cases in which a criminal investigation is ongoing -- from the point a police inquiry is launched until conviction," the draft law says.
The draft still requires approval from the cabinet and U.A.E. President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Al Sayegh said the draft law will pass through another phase of screening and consultations before it is approved.
"Media is now the authority in the U.A.E. and the country is proud of the changes taking place. We are leading by example," he said.
It is not clear whether the new law, once approved, will govern U.A.E. media free zones such as Dubai Media City."
"UAE May Gag Media Amid Economic Woe, Scandals
Thursday, Jan 22, 2009
(This item was originally published Wednesday.)
By Mirna Sleiman
Of ZAWYA DOW JONES
DUBAI (Zawya Dow Jones)--The United Arab Emirates plans to crackdown on media freedoms amid a slew of bad headlines about the impact of the global financial crisis on the Persian Gulf state's economy and corporate scandals in Dubai.
A new 45-article law, which was introduced by the National Media Council, the government arm responsible for all media affairs, was presented to the country's Federal National Council to replace the 28-year-old Publications Law.
"The new laws do nothing to advance the cause of press freedom in the U.A.E.," said Frank Kane, former business editor of the U.K.'s Observer newspaper who is now based as an independent media consultant in the U.A.E. "Business journalism is especially constrained by the restrictions on coverage of economic and financial news."
The law, which is still at draft stage, will introduce a system of fines, ranging from 50,000 U.A.E. dirhams ($13,600) to AED1 million, for damaging the country's reputation or its economy, according to a copy of the legislation published in local media Wednesday.
Cracking down on press freedoms follows a sharp slowdown in the country's economy and a series of negative headlines about the effects of the world financial crisis and corporate scandals involving top executives in banks and real-estate companies in Dubai, the U.A.E.'s commercial and tourism hub.
An Abu Dhabi government official with close knowledge of the legislation played down concerns that it would crimp media freedoms when called Wednesday.
Under the new draft laws publishing any information that's deemed to damage "the country's reputation or harms its economy" will be prohibit.
"News agencies and reporters need not to worry as long as they're doing a professional job," said Abdulatif Al Sayegh, chief executive officer at government-owned Arab Media Group, which publishes newspapers and owns local radio stations.
The U.A.E. government also plans to fine journalists up to AED200,000, or about $55,000, if they name suspects under investigation in the emirate, according to the draft. However, the law protects journalists from imprisonment for carrying out their duties.
Article 31 of the new legislation sets a maximum fine of AED1 million for criticizing the ruling family.
"The law prohibits the publication of names and pictures of the accused in cases in which a criminal investigation is ongoing -- from the point a police inquiry is launched until conviction," the draft law says.
The draft still requires approval from the cabinet and U.A.E. President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Al Sayegh said the draft law will pass through another phase of screening and consultations before it is approved.
"Media is now the authority in the U.A.E. and the country is proud of the changes taking place. We are leading by example," he said.
It is not clear whether the new law, once approved, will govern U.A.E. media free zones such as Dubai Media City."
