IFLA/FAIFEWORLDREPORT2007

CensorshipinArabcountries
KamelLabidi
TunisianfreelancejournalistcurrentlybasedinArlington,Virginia,USA;andconsultantfor theInternationalFreedomofExpressionExchange(IFEX)andtheCommitteetoProtectJournalists(CPJ) KELabidi@aol.com On2June2005,SamirKassir,oneofthemost prominentjournalistsanddemocracyadvocatesinthe Arabworld,waskilledbyabomb,ashestartedthe engineofhisoldAlfaRomeocarparkednearhishome inBeirut,Lebanon.Hiskillersbrutallybroughttoahalt hismuchawaitedweeklycolumnintheindependent dailyAnnaharonwaystodemocratiseLebanonand turnthepageofdictatorshipinneighbouringSyriaand otherautocraticArabcountries. Onthesamedayandthousandsofmilesawayfrom Beirut,butstillontheMediterraneancoast,thebody ofDhaifAlGhazal,anoutspokenLibyanjournalist,was foundtotallydisfiguredinthesuburbsofBenghazi, Libyassecondlargestcity. ThemurderofKassir,whowaswidelyknowninthe regionandWesternEuropebecauseofhiscontribution fornearly25yearstoprestigiouspaperssuchasthe LebaneseAnnaharandtheFrenchLeMonde Diplomatique,andhisreputationforcrossingred lines,promptedwidespreadmediacoverage.His deathalsospurredanunprecedentedwaveof solidaritywithhisfamily,friendsandcolleaguesanda callforaninternationalinvestigationbecauseofthe deemedlackofindependenceoftheLebanesejudicial system. Unfortunately,themurderoftheLibyanreporter promptedlittlemediaattention.Ittooknearlytwo weeksfortheinternationalcommunitytolearnabout hiskidnappingandassassination.AlGhazalwas kidnappedbyarmedmenon21May2005;hisbody wasonlyfoundon2June. ThecaseofAlGhazalgivesanideaabouttheongoing difficultyofmonitoringanddocumentinghumanrights violations,includingdifferentformsofcensorshipin theArabworld.ItwasthelittleknownLibyanAr rakeeb(watchdog),aUnitedKingdombasedgroupof Libyanpoliticalandrightsactivistsinexile,which issuedthealertonthemurderofAlGhazal.AlGhazal wasbadlytortured,hisfingerswerecutandhewas stabbedwithaknifebeforehewasshotdead,said theLibyangroup.Hiscriticalonlinepieceson corruptionwithintherulingRevolutionaryCommittees

ofwhichhewasaformermemberseemedtohave spurredtheissuanceofhisdeathwarrant. SalemMohamed,editorinchiefoftheonlinenews siteLibyaalyoum.com(LibyaToday),saidthatfor severalmonthsAlGhazalhadbeenwritingarticlesfor hiswebsitecriticaloftheRevolutionaryCommittees andColonelGaddafispolicestate. ThemurderofKassirperpetratedinLebanon,known forofferingmoreroomforfreeexpressionthanmost Arabcountries,andofAlGhazalinLibya,wherethere iszerotoleranceforindependentreporting,represents themostbrutalformofcensorship.Scoresof journalistsandwritershavebeenkilledordisappeared overthepastdecades,particularlyinLebanon,Algeria andIraq,forcrossingredlinesimposedbyautocratic rulers,religiousandpoliticalzealotsandbyalsothugs inclinedtotakethelawintotheirownhands,as corruption,injusticeandoppressiongainground. Todate,nomurdererofanArabjournalisthasever beenbroughttojusticeoverthepastdecades.Nobody intheinternationalhumanrightscommunity,for instance,knowswhathappenedtotheLibyan journalistAbdullahAlSanussiAlDharrat,whohas beendetainedwithouttrialsince1973.TheLibyan regimeneveracknowledgedhisarrestordetention, whilehisfamilyandfriendsandpressfreedom defendersarestillhopingthatheisalive. Thisarticledoesnotincluderemarksoncensorshipin Iraq,thedeadliestcountryintheworldforthepress fordecades.UptoearlyMay2007,atleast102 journalistsand39mediastafferswerekilled,according totheNewYorkbasedCommitteetoProtect Journalists.Moreover,monitoringattacksonfreedom ofexpressionhasbeenincreasinglydifficultsincethe USledinvasioninMarch2003. Theaimofthearticleistohighlightcasesofcensorship insomeArabcountries,particularlyTunisia,whichwas oftendescribedintheWestasabeaconofhopedue tosignificantstepstakennearly50yearsagotowards educationandjusticeforwomen.Itisstillunparalleled intherestoftheArabregioninthisrespect.

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Themainreasonwhythisarticleshedsmorelighton censorshipinTunisiathananyotherArabcountryis becauseitwasparadoxicallychosenbytheUnited Nations,despiteitspoorfreedomofexpressionrecord, tohostthesecondphaseoftheWorldSummitonthe InformationSociety(WSIS)inmidNovember2005. Oneofthemainobjectivesofthefactfindingmissions toTunisiaundertakenbytheIFEXTunisiaMonitoring Group(IFEXTMG)beforeandafterthesecondphase oftheWSIS,wastokeeptheinternationalcommunity informedaboutvariousattacksonfreedomof expressioninoneofthemostskilledpolicestates,as farashidingitspoorhumanrecordsisconcerned. Ittakesmorethanbravevolunteerslackingresources andoftentrainingandlivingundercontinuous surveillanceandharassmenttomonitoranddocument widespreadattacksonbasichumanrights,including freedomofexpression,andtokeeptheinternational communityinformed.Intheearly1990s,manyof thesevolunteerswereimprisonedorforcedintoexile afterthehugecrackdownonpoliticaldissent, independentjournalismandtheTunisianLeaguefor HumanRights,thefirstofitskindintheArabworld. Establishedin1977,thisrightsgroup,whichhasbeen monitoringanddocumentingattacksonfreedomof expression,hasbeenpreventedsince2005from conveningitsGeneralAssemblyandnormally conductingitsactivities. Althoughgrossattacksoncivilsocietyadvocatesand independentjournalistsareontherise,state repressioninTunisiaandelsewhereintheregionhas sofarfailedtopreventtheemergenceofindependent papersandnewgroupscommittedtohumanrights andfreedomofexpression. ThoselivingintheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica,or whoaremonitoringfromafarthestatusoffreedomof expressioninthispartoftheworld,caneasilynotice thatmoreandmorepeoplearetakingtheircourage withbothhandsandexpressingthemselvesonissues consideredtaboountilrecently.Theyarealsoshedding moreandmorelightonattacksonfreeexpressionand censorship.Forinstance,inearlyMay2005,four reportsdocumentingcasesofcensorshipandwarning againstitsdangerousrepercussionsweremadepublic inTunisia. Suchatrendcanbenoticed,notonlyinacountrylike Lebanon,whichdespitethemurderofSamirKassir andGibranTueni,editorofAnnahar,andthemaiming ofMaiChidiac,atalkshowhostofLBCTV,throughcar bombsin2005forhistoricandsocialreasonshas

offeredmoreroomforfreedomofexpressionthanin mostArabcountries. ItcanalsobeeasilyidentifiedinMorocco,forinstance, orinEgypt,wherethecircleoffreedomofexpression inthemediaandintheheavilyguardedstreetsofCairo hasbeenwideningrapidlyoverthepastfewyears. Independentpapersandrightsgroupsfocusingonthe protectionofjournalistsandfreedomofexpression havebeenmushroomingdespitecontinualjudicialand policeattacksonindependentandoppositionpapers. Since2004,Egypthashadoneofthemostindepend entdailiesintheregioncalledAlMasryAlYoum(The EgyptianToday).Manyofitsjournalistsandwriters havetakentothestreetsoverthepasttwoyearsto callfortheendofthestateofemergencyandofthe gripoftheMinistryoftheInteriorandPresidentHosni MubaraksrulingNationalDemocraticPartyoverthe countrysdifferentaspectsoflife.Eveninthestate ownedmedia,Egyptianjournalistsandwritershave neverbeensoopposedtothehumiliatingfactthat entrenchedgovernmentemployees,particularlyatthe MinistryoftheInterior,havethefinalsayinwhat peoplecanreadandwatchandwhatredlines academicsandstudentsshouldnotcross. Theharassmentordetentionofjournalistsoryoung Arabbloggerswhohavebeenplayingasignificantrole inwideningthecircleoffreedomofexpression advocatesandkeepingpeopleinsideandoutsidethe regioninformedabouthumanrightsviolations,does notseemtoprompt,asitusedtodo,selfcensorshipor paralysethefreeflowofinformation. EvenincountrieslikeOman,Libya,SyriaandTunisia, wherethereislittletoleranceforfreeexpression,the numberofpeopleopenlywritingabouttherampant corruptionandtheurgentneedforgenuinereformin theirrespectivecountriesisincreasing.Thewallsof censorshipseemtobecrumblinggraduallyeverywhere intheregiondespitetherisingattacksonfreedomof expression,accordingtotheannualreportsof internationalpressfreedomgroups,suchasthe CommitteetoProtectJournalistsandReporters WithoutBorders,issuedin2007. Althoughitislessusedthaninotherpartsoftheworld andwebsitesareoftenblockedbyautocraticArab governments,theInternethasturnedouttobea powerfultoolofinformationaboutattacksonbasic rightsandcensoredbooks,papersandfilms,andalso aboutwaystopromoteandimplementgenuine reform.AccordingtotheArabNetworkforHuman RightsInformation(http://www.hrinfo.net/en/),there

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arealmost40000Arabicblogs.Mostofthemwere launchedin2006. Unfortunatelythispeacefulquestforfreedomhas beenmetwithviolentreactionsonthepartofArab autocraticgovernmentsthatareapparentlyinclinedto makeconcessionstoWesterngovernmentsindifferent economicanddiplomaticfields,butnottoabideby theircommitmenttointernationalstandardsfor freedomofexpressionandtorespecttheirpeoples righttoinformation. TheassassinationofthreejournalistsinLebanonand Libyacameasanewreminderthatthepriceforfree expressionremainsextremelyhighinallArab countries.Unlesstheinternationalcommunityfinds moreeffectivewaystoprotectjournalistsandwriters andtoraiseawarenessaboutthedangerous consequencesofcensorshipandlackofindependent reporting,suchapricewillkeeprising. Ironically,theassassinationoftheLebanesejournalists promptedmoreselfcensorshipinneighbouringSyria thaninLebanon.Opinionpageeditorsofleading papers,suchasAnnahar,AsSafirandtheDailyStar toldtheauthorofthisarticleinJuly2005thatthe numbersofSyriancontributorstotheirrespective opinionpageshavedecreasedenormouslysincethe murderofSamirKassiron2June. Despitethechillingeffectoftheassassinationof Lebanesejournalistsonreportersandeditorsinboth LebanonandSyria,awarenessamongwritersand journalistsoftheneedtobecomeinvolvedinthe struggleforfreedomofexpressionseemstobeonthe rise.ScoresofArabgroupsdedicatedtofreedomof expressionkeepmushroomingandaregetting togethertoraiseawarenessaboutthedangersof censorship.InLebanon,theassassinationofKassirand TueniandtheassassinationattemptonChidiacled KassirsrelativesandfriendstoestablishtheSamir KassirFoundationtopromoteindependentjournalism (http://www.samirkassir.net/).Theattacksalsoledto theemergenceoftheSkillsFoundation(http://www. maharatfoundation.org/)committedtomonitoring attacksonfreedomofexpressionandcampaigning againstimpunityinthecasesoftheassassinationof journalists. Manygroupshavebeenjoininginternationaland regionalnetworksinvolvedinpromotingand protectingfreedomofexpression.Inearly2006,the ArabArchivesInstitute(Jordan),theArabicNetwork forHumanRightsInformation(http://www.hrinfo.net) inEgyptandtheObservatoryfortheFreedomofthe Press,PublishingandCreation(http://www.

observatoireolpec.org/index.htm,Tunisia)joinedIFEX, bringingthenumberofArabgroupsunderthe umbrellaofthisinternationalfreedomofexpression networktosixoutofatotalof71members.Theother threeare:theEgyptianOrganisationforHumanRights (http://www.eohr.org),theCairoInstituteforHuman RightsStudies(http://www.cihrs.org)andtheAlgerian CentrefortheDefenceofPressFreedom.s InJune2006,theArabicNetworkforHumanRights InformationandtheObservatoryfortheFreedomof thePress,PublishingandCreationestablishedin cooperationwithothergroupsfromAlgeria,Egypt, Libya,MauritaniaandTunisia,theWorkingGroupon PressFreedomandFreeExpressioninNorthAfrica (http://wgfena.org/en/). Themysteriousdisappearanceon11August2003of EgyptianjournalistRedaHelalofAlAhram,the kidnappingofAbdelHalimKandiloftheEgyptian weeklyAlArabiin2004,andthesexualassaultinMay 2005onfemalejournalistsinthestreetsofCairoby thugsclosetotherulingpartydidnotpreventthe increasingnumberofEgyptianjournalistsandwriters fromtakingtothestreetstoprotestagainstattackson freedomofexpressionandtokeepcrossingredlines. MonitoringsuchattacksandexertingpressureonArab governmentstobringtojusticethosewhokilledKassir, TueniandAlGhazalandmaimedChidiacin2005,and toreleaseimprisonedjournalists,writersand democracyadvocates,wouldbeextremelyhelpfulto endcensorshipandautocraticruleintheArabworld. ThereleaseinAugust2005ofthreeprominentSaudi dissidentsandtheirlawyerwasgoodnewsformany. ThepoetAliDomaniarbitrarilycondemnedtonine yearsinprisonforcallingforaconstitutionalmonarchy wasamongthem.AfterthenewkingofSaudiArabia decidedtopardonthem,onenowwonderswhether freedomofexpressionadvocateswillhavetowaituntil anewkingascendsthethroneoradictatoris overthrowntohearthatsomewritersorjournalistsare nolongerbehindbars. AsArabstateskeeptighteningthescrewonfree expressionandsilencingprominentwritersand democracyactivists,poorlydocumentedbooksand publicationsonreligionandmythsaremushroomingin thestreetsofArabcitiesandontheshelvesoftheir libraries.SalamaAhmedSalamaofthestaterundaily AlAhram,andoneofthemostrespectedjournalistsin Egypt,saidinhiscolumnon14June2005that althoughheopposedallformsofcensorshiponbooks andpublications,hefindsallthishugeflowofpoison attributedtocultureandreligionextremelyexcessive.

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ManylikeSalama,includingtheEgyptianOrganisation forHumanRights(EOHR),whichhasbeenplayinga majorroleinmonitoringanddocumentingattackson freeexpressionsinceitsestablishmentinthemid 1980s,finditunacceptablethatthoseinchargeofthe IslamicuniversityofAlAzharareinvolvingthemselves inpoliticallymotivatedFatwas,orreligiousedicts, whileturningablindeyetopoisonouswritingsinthe nameofIslam. In2004,EOHRissuedareportonattacksonfreedom ofexpressionperpetratedinthenameofIslam between1920and1990,andunderscoredtheneedfor acampaigntodefendfreedomofexpressionand thoughtandcreativity,whichshouldnotbesubjectto anyformofcensorshipbyreligiousinstitutions.This reportcameinreactiontoanEgyptianministerial decreegrantingtheAlAzharIslamicResearchCouncil (IRC)thepowertomonitorcopiesoftheQuranthat havenotreceivedtheagreementorpermissionofAl Azharandtoinstigatelegalactionagainsttheir distributors.ItalsogivestheIRCtherighttotake actionagainstpublishersofbookstheydeemtobe offendingIslam. Manylawyersandwritersmaintainthatthereisno legalgroundforAlAzharscensorshiponartisticand literaryworks.Butthisdidnotpreventtheinstitution fromcallingforabanonsomeNawalSaadawisbooks, includinghernovel,Falloftheimam,publishedmore than20yearsagoandtranslatedinto14languages.Al Azharalsorecommendedthebanofanotherbook titledResponsibilityforthefailureofthemodern IslamicstateinthemodernagebyGamalAlBanna,the youngerbrotherofthefounderoftheinfluential MuslimBrotherhoodMovementin1928. AcomprehensivestudyoncensorshipinEgyptwas madepublicnearlythreeyearsagobyagroupof EgyptianresearchersledbyNegadAlBoraieofthe CommitteefortheDevelopmentofDemocracy.The studyseverelycriticiseswhatAlBoraiecallstheroleof AlAzharinhamperingculturalinputinEgyptand restrictingfreedomofexpression.TheCopticChurch isalsocriticisedforusingitsinfluencetorestrict freedomofexpression. ReligiousauthoritiesinTunisiahavenorealsayon censorshipissues.UnlikeEgypt,Tunisiahasseen freedomofexpressionlosegroundsincePresidentZine ElAbidineBenAliseizedpowerinabloodlesscoupin 1987.Journalistsandwriterswerelessharassedunder PresidentBenAlispredecessor,HabibBourguiba,even ifthelatterranthecountrywithafirmhandfor31 years.

ThedecisiontakenbyagroupofmembersofIFEXin 2004tomonitorthestatusoffreedomofexpressionin TunisiabeforeandafterthesecondphaseoftheWSIS heldinTunison1618November,helpedpavetheway forunprecedentedfactfindingmissionsdealingwith freeexpressionintheregion. The16membergroup,knownastheTunisian MonitoringGroup(TMG),undertookfivefactfinding missionstoTunisiasinceJanuary2005toshedlighton attacksonfreedomofexpressionperpetratedbya regimethatreliesonwelltrainedbureaucratsathome andskilledlobbyistsinWesterncapitalstohideits humanrightsviolationsandgetawaywiththem. ThelatestmissiontookplaceattheendofFebruary 2007.Itwassetuptocoincidewiththesecond anniversaryoftheimprisonmenton1March2005of MohamedAbbou,ahumanrightslawyerandwriter, forsubmittingpiecescriticalofPresidentZineEl AbidinesdespoticruletoaTunisianblockednews website,Tunisnews(http://www.tunisnews.net/).The fourthIFEXTMGreport(http://campaigns.ifex. org/tmg/IFEXTMGreport_April2007.doc)issuedinApril 2007confirmedthatthesituationregardingfreedom ofexpressionhadnotstoppeddeclining: SinceWSIS,andsincethelastTMGreportissuedin May2006,wehavedisappointinglywitnessedserious deteriorationintheconditionsrelatedtofreedomof expressioninTunisia,particularlywithrespectto independentorganisations,harassmentofjournalists anddissidents,independenceofthejudiciary,blocking ofbooksandwebsites,andtheimprisonmentofthe humanrightslawyerMohamedAbbou,forvoicinghis opinioninarticlesontheInternet.Cumulativelythese changesleadustoconcludethattheTunisian governmenthassoughttofurtherstifledissentsince May2006. InJanuary2007,IFEXTMGurgednewUNSecretary GeneralBanKiMoontoremindTunisiaofits obligationsunderinternationallawtorespectfreedom ofexpressionandotherobligations.Theblatant conflictbetweentheUnitedNationsvaluesand principlesontheonehandandTunisiasrecordof freedomofexpressionandmediafreedomonthe otherhandcannotbeignoredanylonger,particularly aftertakingtheresponsibilitytoholdtheWSISinTunis andtheelectionofTunisiatotheUNHumanRights CouncilinMay2006,TMGsaidinitslettertotheUN SecretaryGeneral(http://campaigns.ifex.org/tmg/ TMG_LettertoBankiMoon_Jan2006.doc).President BushswaronterrorhasobviouslyhelpedPresident BenAliandhisautocraticcounterpartsindifferent

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partsoftheworldtowagemoreattacksonfree expression. ThefindingsofIFEXTMG(http://campaigns.ifex. org/tmg/),whichtheInternationalFederationof Journalists(IFJ)andIFLA/FAIFEjoinedin2005,seemto havespurredtheTunisiangovernmenttoundertake someminorcosmeticchanges.Forinstance,asecond privateradiostation,RadioJawhara,hasbeen establishedin2005,butitsfoundersareclosetothe PresidentBenAlisrulingparty,justlikethefounders ofRadioMosaiqueestablishedin2003. Furthermore,thelawnolongerrequiressubmissionof copiesofnewspaperstotheauthorities,includingthe MinistryoftheInterior,beforedistribution.Thislegal submissionis,however,stillenforcedasfarasbooks andtheirdistributionareconcerned.Thelistof websitesblockedbytheTunisianauthoritiesfor politicalreasonshasslightlydiminished. ThefindingsoftheIFEXTMGmissionarepostedon differentwebsites,includingthatofIFEX,theIndexon Censorship,theWorldAssociationofNewspapers, HrinfoandtheEgyptianOrganisationforHuman Rights.Amongthefindingswasalistofbannedbooks, manyofwhichwerewrittenbyprominent intellectuals,suchasMohamedTalbiandMoncef Marzouki,oreditedbyrightsgroups,liketheTunisian AssociationforDemocraticWomen(ATFD)ortheArab InstituteforHumanRights(AIHR).Someofthebanned booksdealwithhumanrightseducationandwomens rights.Otherstacklehistoricissuesandaimtohelp Tunisiansunderstandtheirrecenthistory.Another bookcontainsthepapersofaconferenceheldinTunis in2000oncensorshipintheArabworld.Althoughnot comprehensive,thelistofbannedbooksisthelongest inTunisiasrecenthistory. Unfortunately,theTunisiangovernmentcontinuesto denyanycensorshipofbooksortheInternet,orany

imprisonmentofTunisiansforexpressingthemselves. Highrankingofficialskeepclaimingthatfreedomof expressionisprosperingandthattherearenopolitical prisonersorprisonersofconscienceinthecountry.Yet localandinternationalhumanrightsgroupshavebeen documentinghundredsofprisonerswhohavebeen detainedforpeacefullyexercisingtheirrighttofree expressionandassociation. ThecoalitionofnationalandinternationalNGOs formingIFEXTMGhasspurredmuchhopeamong independentwritersandjournalists.Ithasencouraged thebeleagueredrightsgroupstomakegreatereffort toinformtheinternationalcommunityaboutthe legitimateandpeacefulstruggleforfreedominTunisia. TheIFEXTMGmissionsarehavingagalvanisingeffect onpeoplesufferingfromcensorshipandfearingits negativeimpactonthefutureoftheirchildren.They arealsoexercisingpressureontheTunisian government. AtatimewhentherecommendationsofIFEXTMG seemtofallondeafearsinTunisandinWestern capitalsthatareonfriendlytermswithPresidentBen Alispolicestate,IFEXTMGneedstoseekwaystoraise awarenessinWesterncountriesaboutthedangersof turningablindeyetocontinuedattacksonhuman rightsandrisingattemptstosilenceindependent journalists,academicsandhumanrightsdefenders. Factfindingmissionsinvolvingrepresentativesof differentNGOscanhelpimprovethesituation regardingfreedomofexpressioninTunisiaand elsewhereintheregion.Sotoocanthebackingof beleagueredNGOslackingresourcesandtraining,as wellasinternationalattentiontomonitorand documentattacksonfreeexpressionandtokeepthe internationalcommunityawareofthedangerous consequencesofcontinuingtoimposecensorshipin theArabworld.

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