In many Arab countries, journalists are in a difficult position. Their work is systematically hindered. This has a huge impact: Many of the citizens are barely able to articulate themselves politically.
In his last, posthumously published column of the allegedly found in the Saudi Embassy in Ankara murdered Journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a depressing diagnosis: most of The Arab countries, people living not or only very poorly be informed about the political Events in the world.
It could hardly be otherwise, Khashoggi: they had absolutely no opportunities to inform themselves adequately or comprehensively. In most of the countries of the Arab world, the media were under pressure and could not report freely. “Public awareness is dominated by the official discourse of the state,” said Khashoggi in the in the “Washington Post” published Essay. “This discourse will give a lot of people not Believe them, but the vast majority of the population falls continue to be the victims.” So, Khashoggi, have dramatic consequences: “people are unable to Express themselves adequately. Much less are you to a public discussion.”
Rulers claim a monopoly of Opinion
The statistics are Khashoggi law. In the “reporters without borders” published 180 countries comprehensive “ranking of press freedom to 2018” contains all of the Arab countries, on the rear seats. The – relatively – largest the freedom of the press prevails, therefore, in Tunisia (rank 97), closely followed by Lebanon (rank 100). The lower Iraq and Egypt (rank 160 and 161), followed by Saudi Arabia at rank 169. Less free the media is in war-ridden Syria (ranked 177).
Distant relationship to freedom of expression: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
Just in authoritarian to dictatorial ruled countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia rule is largely a monopoly of Opinion, says Christian Mihr, CEO of reporters without borders, in an interview with Deutsche Welle. “This monopoly, of course, have the respective rulers – in Egypt, President al-Sisi in Saudi Arabia the Royal house. Both regimes have a unique goal: you don’t want to allow a political discourse and the society as apolitical.”
Brutal crackdown on journalists
For this, proceed with the utmost severity. In Egypt, around the as a Freelancer working photographer Mahmoud Abu Zeid also known as “Shawkan sat” five years in detention. His Offense: He had brothers in August of 2013 over the clashes between the Muslim and Egyptian security forces reported that around 1000 protesters were killed. Shawkan was arrested and, although he reported on the Events and not participated. Over five years he was in various Egyptian prisons, again and again, he was exposed to physical violence. “Five police officers beat me repeatedly with a belt and their fists,” he had described during the detention, “Amnesty International,” against the conditions in a prison. “When I went to the ground, ceased not to you.”
Currently, the 27 journalists in prison, as well as four media employees and five bloggers and citizen journalists in Egypt. Part of vague charges such as “defamation” and publishing “false” information is to be levied against you. In Saudi Arabia, four journalists and nine bloggers in prison, according to reporters without borders currently.
Freedom of expression is not only a threat to the political discourse in the Arab world, says Christian Mihr. “It also leads to more corruption. If one compares the ranking of press freedom ‘reporters without borders’ with the ‘corruption perception Index’ of Transparency International’, we notice a clear correlation. Where freedom of expression is curtailed, flourish corruption. Where you grow, go back to the corruption.
Can the West international liberal impulses? The UN building in New York
Co-responsibility of the West?
Jamal Khashoggi made in his last Essay for the gloomy situation of human rights and media freedom in the Middle East, indirectly, the Western countries responsible. They responded to human rights violations is no longer as sharp as in earlier times. This fact encourage the authoritarian rulers of the Region, with their crackdown against the media continue.
Similar to the Egyptian journalist Fahmi Huwaidi sees it. Many Western publicists devoted to the decay of democratic values in Europe and the USA. The color on the Middle East, so Huwaidi in the DW-Interview. “Were the institutions in the West continue to be strong, this would also strengthen those in the Arab world.”
Even more dramatic was it that the political freedoms in the West are on the Defensive, not least in the face of jihadist terror. “The International political atmosphere of the Arab regimes is contrary to the counter-revolution prevails. Their leaders have understood this, of course, very quickly and take advantage of this for their own purposes,” says Huwaidi.
Journalists lived in the Arab world almost completely without protection, so Huwaidi. “It remains only to fight for media freedom in the Region. This is but a battle, for the Parties to pay a very high price. All of that to do this, you need to be aware of this.”
Business as usual? Scene from the currently in Riyadh’s ongoing investor conference
The case Kashoggi: a new beginning?
The uprisings of 2011 have suffered a massive setback, in the the Qatari channel Al-Jazeera-affiliated newspaper “Al-araby al-jadeed”. Nevertheless, the regimes of the Region could not hold the riser in the direction of freedom, in principle. “Some governments in the Arab world seem to have the lesson not learned. You mean, some of the more formal reforms or the so far well-maintained intimidation policy are sufficient to keep the citizens remain silent. You seem to continue to believe that money and corruption is a kind of virtual stability buy and can in this way, all hope of serious change.” However, it should be seen that this bill go to.
Perhaps the case could act as Khashoggi in this direction, says Christian Mihr of reporters without borders. “I have the impression that in the Arab world, a great disturbance about the brutality of the murder of Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia has not been dealt with so far with human rights squeamish. But the brutality of this case is something Special.” He did not sound too optimistic, so Mihr. “But I have the impression that the case raises a larger vibration than usual.”