World Watch Archive / September 2008
Egypt
Authorities cracking down on satellite television
Egyptian authorities cancelled the videotaping of two pro-democracy programs on the American satellite television channel Al-Hurra hours before shooting was to begin Aug. 27. The day before, authorities had confirmed the shooting of the “Eye on Democracy” program, which planned on featuring young activists involved in Egyptian political parties and their efforts to create change.
These actions are the latest in a string of crackdowns on satellite television programs in the country since the League of Arab Nations agreed to a new media charter on Feb. 12. At a special meeting in Cairo, ministers of information in 20 of 22 member states voted in favor of the charter, titled “Principles regulating Radio and Satellite TV Transmission and Receiving in the Arab Region.” In a joint statement issued by media rights group Article 19, 34 human-rights related organizations, many of which are based in Egypt, announced their criticism of the charter, which they say will further censorship by limiting freedom of publication and broadcasting.
Since Egypt adopted the media charter, the state-run satellite Nilesat has stopped the transmission of London-based Al-Hiwar TV, the Iraqi, pro-Sunni Al-Zawraa TV, and Al-Baraka TV, a product of the Saudi Holding Company.
State authorities also confiscated property of the Cairo News Company (CNC) in April, effectively shutting down the organization that provided satellite transmission and equipment to television networks, including Al-Jazeera, BBC, and CNN. Authorities filed a complaint against Nader Gohar, the head of CNC, the day after Al-Jazeera aired footage of protestors defacing a poster of the president.
According to Reporters Without Borders, Gohar is charged with constituting an unauthorized communications network and broadcasting without a license. In a Human Rights Watch press release, Gohar said his attempt to renew the license has been caught in Egyptian bureaucracy since July 2007 and that he was told he could continue operations in the meantime. He faces his fifth hearing Oct. 26.
Palestinian National Authority
Gaza radio station back on the air
The Palestinian radio station Sawt al-Shaab (Voice of the People) was reopened Aug. 5 after being shut down for three days by the Hamas government of the Palestinian National Authority. The radio station is based out of Gaza and was charged with causing sedition by broadcasting lies and rumors and stepping outside the bounds of national and professional responsibilities.
The current Hamas government has a history of silencing and restricting journalists and media associated with rival political parties. Menassat.com, an online Lebanese news journal, reported that the closure of Voice of the People radio had come as a surprise from journalists because of the station's alignment with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a pro-Hamas organization.
Insiders speculated to MENASSAT that crackdown on Sawt al-Shaab arose after the station became too critical of Hamas after the party won parliamentary elections in 2006 and took control of the Gaza Strip by force in 2007.
The chairmen of Sawt al-Shaab, Thou al-Fakkar al-Sawirjo, spoke to MENASSAT and recounted how Hamas' security forces forced themselves into the station's Gaza office, cut off its electricity and forced its employees out of the building.
“The closure of the radio stations is part of Hamas' policy of muzzling people critical of their recent actions,” Al-Sawirjo said. “It is also a means of creating one voice on the airwaves.”
Khaled al-Batesh, a leading member of the rival Al-Jihad Al-Islami (Islamic Jihad) party, also told MENASSAT that the government's decision to close the station was misguided.
“Sawt Al-Shaab is actually one of the national voices of Palestine, and has always defended its people by broadcasting balanced news,” he said.