Pollock Argues Against Al Jazeera’s Reformer Status
April 29th, 2011 by Kyle
David Pollock, writing for the Washington Institute of Near East Policy (WINEP), discusses the dichotomous news coverage by Al Jazeera English and its Arabic counterpart. With the increased publicity that Al Jazeera has received over the past few months, Pollock argues that many have praised Al Jazeera’s broad based coverage, but failed to address the selectivity of the same coverage. Pollock states: “Al Jazeera’s reformist reputation does not hold up to heavier scrutiny”, citing a WikiLeaks cable in which Qatari prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani stated that the network’s “ability to influence public opinion is a substantial source of leverage for Qatar.” Pollock asserts that Al Jazeera English has much greater freedom in its coverage, but that the Arabic service has failed to report on the uprising in Bahrain and has had a general lack of coverage of unfavorable stories on Qatar’s Gulf allies. Pollock cautions viewers of the “spin” that Al Jazeera uses in over reporting stories on countries unfavorable to Qatar and to be aware of the vast differences in coverage between the English and Arabic sites. Pollock concludes that as long as these practices continue, “Al Jazeera should not be touted as a true reformer or promoter of democracy.”
Posted in Bahrain, Freedom, Middle Eastern Media, Qatar | Comment »
State Department Official Discusses US Policy in Sharq Al Awsat
April 26th, 2011 by Ali
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the US State Department, Tamara Wittes, gave an interview to the Arabic daily Sharq Al Awsat. Throughout the interview Wittes affirmed the points that have driven US policy toward the Middle East since President Barack Obama’s Cairo speech, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Forum for the Future speech and the latter’s more recent speech at the US-Islamic World Forum: while the US supports certain universal rights, it does not view itself as the originator of change in the region. She said while the US has interests in the region such as the “free flow of energy resources,” “the reintegration of Iraq” into the region and the protection of allies, she emphasized that reform is inevitable for regional stability. When asked how the US came to view stability as linked to reform as opposed to the security of its allies, Wittes referred to the more recent Clinton recent speech in which the Secretary declared that gaps between a government and the aspirations of its people are not conducive to stability. Wittes added that while the need for reform has been discussed for some time, what has become necessary now is its “faster application.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Middle Eastern Media, Reform, US foreign policy | Comment »
State Department Discontinues America.gov in Favor of Social Media Outreach
April 25th, 2011 by Ali
The State Department has ceased to update the democracy promotion website America.gov. The decision came as the result of a review last fall, which concluded that the State Department’s Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) needed a “more proactive” web engagement strategy that focused less on “static” websites and more on social media, according to IIP Deputy Assistant Secretary Duncan MacInnes. The website, which was launched in January 2008, is currently being archived. The resources it provided will now be available through individual embassy and consulate websites.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Middle Eastern Media, Technology, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Notes: Egyptian Human Rights Lawyer Discusses Region’s Protests
April 20th, 2011 by Ali
On Wednesday, Egyptian human rights lawyer Gamal Eid gave a lecture entitled “The Democratic Snowball and the Revolutions of the Arab World.” Eid began by remarking on the rise in internet usage in the Arab world in the past several years. While the trend has been generally recognized, Eid focused on the sudden spike in, say, Egyptian Facebook users between 2008 and 2010. Simultaneously, he noted, regimes in the region have become more adept at controlling and censoring the internet – he cited several politically-active sites, for example, that were shut down only hours after their creation. With regards to internet shutdowns generally, Eid found the Arab regimes “foolish,” saying “if the people are going to descend upon the streets… they are going to descend upon the streets.”
Continue reading below, or click here for the pdf.
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Posted in Civil Society, Egypt, Freedom, Judiciary, Middle Eastern Media | Comment »
The Gulf: Quiet Front of the Arab Spring?
April 19th, 2011 by Ali
Blake Hounshell writes that Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have largely escaped the regional wave of protests, in part, due to high growth and per capita income. Even Saudi Arabia and Oman have seen more dissent in his assessment. The other reason for this quietude is that both countries have seemed unwilling to brook dissent. This is ironic given their support for the Arab Spring through their media outlets, as well as diplomatic, humanitarian and military assistance.
POMED board member Shadi Hamid argues that the Arab Spring has shaped more coherently the policy of the Gulf Cooperation Council which was previously “less than the sum of its parts.” Early on, Qatar and the UAE appeared opposed to Saudi Arabia, which championed stability in the region. However, the specter of Iran among these countries’ Shia’ populations has drawn them more tightly together. However, Hamid leaves open the possibility that Qatar could become part of a non-alignment axis–along with Tunisia and Turkey–in the midst of a cold war between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Posted in Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Gulf Cooperation Council, Middle Eastern Media, Military, Multilateralism, Protests | Comment »
McCall Returns from Trip to Middle East
March 29th, 2011 by Naureen
Dawn McCall, State Department’s Bureau of International Information Programs Coordinator, concluded a trip to the Middle East during which she met with media and telecommunications industry executives and journalists as well as senior Embassy officials to discuss media trends and audience usage patterns in today’s changing media environment. McCall traveled to the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq.
Posted in Diplomacy, Iraq, Journalism, Kuwait, Middle Eastern Media, Qatar, UAE | Comment »
U.S. to Give $20 Million in Assistance to Tunisia
March 23rd, 2011 by Alec
The U.S. State Department announced that it will give $20 million in assistance to Tunisia to aid in democracy building efforts. The money will provide training and expertise on conducting free and fair elections, operating a free press, and the creation of political parties. A portion of the funds has also been designated for economic aid. The funds are unspent money from Congressional appropriations for other purposes and will be distributed through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). This is an $18 million increase in funding over bilateral assistance to Tunisia in 2010. The EU has pledged $23 million in immediate aid as well along with $350 million over the next two years.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Elections, Foreign Aid, Journalism, Middle Eastern Media, Political Parties, Reform, Tunisia, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Notes: “Sen. John Kerry on U.S. Policy Toward the Middle East”
March 17th, 2011 by Alec
Senator John Kerry (D-MA) delivered a speech at The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, on U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East in light of the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt and continued unrest and protests across the entire region. Marwan Muasher, vice president of studies at The Carnegie Endowment introduced Senator Kerry and made brief remarks about the current unrest in the region.
For full notes, continue below. For pdf version, click here.
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Posted in Arab League, Bahrain, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Event Notes, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Journalism, Judiciary, Legislation, Libya, Middle Eastern Media, Mideast Peace Plan, Military, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Islam, Political Parties, Protests, Reform, Terrorism, Tunisia, Turkey, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Notes: “The Role of Citizen Journalism and Social Media in the Middle East and North Africa”
February 10th, 2011 by Naureen
On Monday, the National Democratic Institute hosted a discussion about the role new and social media has played in the dissemination of information and in supporting offline mobilization across the region. Joelle Jackson, senior program officer at NDI made opening remarks. Chris Spence, chief technology officer at NDI moderated the event and introduced the panelists: Houeida Anouar, a Tunisian digital activist; Golnaz Esfandiari, senior correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and editor of the Persian Letters blog; and Raed Jarrar, Iraqi-American blogger and political advocate based in Washington.
To read full notes continue below or click here for pdf.
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Posted in Egypt, Event Notes, Freedom, Iran, Iraq, Journalism, Middle Eastern Media, Protests, Reform, Tunisia | Comment »
Iran: Sotoudeh Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison, Banned from Travel and Practicing Law
January 10th, 2011 by Naureen
On Sunday, Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was sentenced to 11 years in jail for “anti-regime propaganda, acting against national security and failing to wear Islamic cover in a film.” Sotoudeh has also been banned from practicing law and leaving the country for 20 years. According to her husband, Reza Khandan, the main charges against Sotoudeh were a result of interviews she gave to foreign news outlets and allegations that she was a founding member of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, an association of lawyers led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi. Khandan also said that Sotoudeh believed her sentence was politically motivated, as she was told by interrogators before her trial that her sentence would be “guaranteed to be more than 10 years.”
Update: Philip J. Crowley, State Department spokesman, condemned the verdict and called for her immediate release stating, “Ms. Sotoudeh is a strong voice for rule of law and justice in Iran. We are dismayed by her continued detention and loss of the right to practice law. Her conviction is part of a systematic attempt on the part of Iranian authorities to silence the defense of democracy and human rights in Iran.”
Posted in Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Middle Eastern Media | Comment »
Egypt: HEC is “Decorative,” Media Report from EASD
November 28th, 2010 by Jason
A statement released yesterday on the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) website criticized the High Elections Commission (HEC) for actions prior to the election that were somewhere “between timid silence and speaking on behalf of the Interior Ministry.” The statement specifically denounced the failure of the HEC to “implement all Administrative Court orders to reinstate candidates rejected by the security directorates.” Also, a report from the Egyptian Association for Supporting Democratic Development looks at how the Egyptian media covered the different political parties during the first week of official campaigning, which ran from November 14th to November 19th.
Posted in Civil Society, Egypt, Elections, Journalism, Middle Eastern Media | Comment »
Egypt: Media Suffering Under “Wave of Repression”
November 28th, 2010 by Jason
Bahey eldin Hassan writes at Foreign Policy‘s Middle East Channel that “one of the brightest spots” in Egyptian political life over the past decade has been the “emergence of a freer media climate and more open public discourse on political issues.” These advances are now under threat, however, because the Egyptian government “has turned the entire media scene upside down, forcing it to abandon critical discourse and uproot real political debate from the electoral coverage.” According to Hassan, the government has formed a “special security-media team,” meant to compile a “list” of the most influential “columnists, independent papers, news channels, [and] heated political talk shows,” in order to silence them. “Following the proverb that says strike whoever is in reach and those roaming free will fear,” television stations have been taken off the air, talk shows have been canceled, and the editor of Al Dostor, Ibrahim Eissa, was fired. Hassan links the “wave of repression” to the effect that the parliamentary elections will have on next year’s presidential election.
Posted in Civil Society, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Journalism, Middle Eastern Media | Comment »
Egypt: Domestic Monitors Face Challenges
November 22nd, 2010 by Jason
Bahey el-din Hassan writes in Al Masry Al Youm that civil society and human rights organizations face three major challenges in monitoring Egypt’s November 28 elections: First, the groups must obtain permits from the High Elections Commission (HEC), a process that has become increasingly opaque. “Although the HEC set 7 November as the deadline for human rights groups to submit applications to monitor elections, it set no date for the issuance of permits,” he writes. Also, the HEC “mandates that monitors be impartial, but how can the commission, with its limited resources, evaluate thousands of monitors for bias? Or is it planning to outsource the job to the security apparatus?” The second major hurdle for groups is a lack of accurate information, a problem exacerbated by the “deplorable state” of the HEC itself. The third challenge are the restrictions placed on the press. “The regime launched a quiet coup in October that restructured TV and print media and placed enormous restrictions on the free flow of information. This means that election monitors will do their job in the dark,” according to Hassan.
Al Masry Al Youm also reports that the head of the HEC, Al-Sayed Abdel Aziz, has now “definitively” stated that “there would be ‘no monitoring’ of Sunday’s parliamentary elections, stressing that the role of civil society and human rights organizations would be limited to ‘following’ the elections rather than ‘monitoring’ them.”
Posted in Civil Society, Egypt, Elections, Human Rights, Journalism, Middle Eastern Media, NGOs | Comment »
POMED Notes: “A Changing Middle East: Iran, Turkey, and Prospects for Peace”
November 16th, 2010 by Jason
On Monday evening, as part of the 2010 Foreign Policy Initiative Forum, a panel discussion was held titled “A Changing Middle East: Iran, Turkey, and Prospects for Peace.” The discussants were Elliot Abrams, of the Council on Foreign Relations, Ambassador Eric Edelman, of the Foreign Policy Initiative and Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, and Reuel Gerecht of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The discussion was moderated by Lee Smith of the Weekly Standard.
(To read full notes, continue below the fold or click here for pdf.)
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Posted in DC Event Notes, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Islamist movements, Israel, Middle Eastern Media, Palestine, Political Parties, Reform, Turkey, US foreign policy | Comment »
Egypt: Political Opposition Responds to Continued Obstacles
November 8th, 2010 by Anna
Yesterday, Al Masry Al Youm reported that Mohamed ElBaradei has accused Egyptian officials of wiretapping the office of his campaign’s general coordinator. On his Facebook page, ElBaradei wrote that he will “request an investigation into this scandal which has attacked the rule of law and violated the personal privacy of citizens,” adding that this is further indication of the regime’s “insistence on oppression and on dispersing opposition voices and the demand for democratization.”
On Saturday, the Muslim Brotherhood held a series of protests in Alexandria, following the reported rejection of some members’ registration papers last week. Observers said that violence broke out in some neighborhoods between demonstrators and security forces. Also on Saturday, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that all political parties must be allowed broadcasting time on state television in order to publicize their platforms.
Posted in Egypt, Judiciary, Middle Eastern Media, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Parties, Protests | Comment »
Egypt: Al Dostor Writers Continue Publishing Online
November 5th, 2010 by Anna
Earlier this week, staff from the Egyptian daily Al Dostor announced that they will continue to publish material on their website, which they have renamed “The Real Al Dostor.” The domain name for the site is registered under Ibrahim Eissa’s name – as such, it will maintain the same editorial policy as the original paper, according to the site’s managing editor Hesham Obia. Al Masry Al Youm reports that about 37 former writers for Al Dostor will contribute stories to the online version, and Eissa is reportedly paying them out of his own pocket while the team searches for sponsors. The newspaper’s former managing editor, Ibrahim Manour, confirmed that the group plans to launch a print version “as soon as we get a new license.”
Posted in Egypt, Journalism, Middle Eastern Media, Technology | Comment »
Egypt: New Election Website, IRI Delegation to Egypt
November 3rd, 2010 by Jason
Al Masry Al Youm has set up an English language website focusing on the upcoming elections. The website includes sections for photos, video, and media monitoring. Al Masry Al Youm also has a report on the arrival of an International Republican Institute (IRI) delegation in Cairo. The delegation met with members of the National Council of Human Rights (NCHR) including the head of the parliamentary elections unit, Makram Mohamed Ahmed, and Mahmoud Karem, NCHR secretary-general. According to the report, the delegation from IRI asked why NCHR had denied international election monitors access to the country. “‘It’s a popular decision coming from people, not the state,’” said Ahmed. Ahmed’s statement seems belied by polling data showing that the Egyptian people due, in fact, support international election monitors.
Posted in Egypt, Elections, Middle Eastern Media, Public Opinion, Technology | Comment »
Morocco: Al Jazeera Suspended Over “Tarnishing Image”
November 1st, 2010 by Anna
The Moroccan government reportedly suspended Al Jazeera’s service in the country on Friday, a move the satellite television network condemned. The government charged the network with deviating from accepted standards of journalism, adding that its “refusal to be objective and impartial systematically tarnishes Morocco’s image.” One unnamed official stated that the government objected to “the way Al Jazeera handles the issues of Islamists and Western Sahara,” where over 2,000 Islamists have been detained since 2003.
Magda Abu Fadil, director of the Journalism Training Program at the American University of Beirut, writes at Huffington Post that “[r]un-ins with Arab governments have been a trademark of the channel, whose motto ‘the opinion, and opposite opinion,’ has often landed it in hot water in a region where personality cults and state-run media are standard fare.” Al Jazeera got in a spat with the Jordanian government last month over the jamming of World Cup broadcasting, and officials in Cairo have criticized the network’s editorial policies and “anti-Egyptian reports,” according to Abu Fadil.
Posted in Journalism, Middle Eastern Media, Morocco | Comment »
Egypt: Wafd Threatens Boycott After State TV Interference
October 26th, 2010 by Jason
According to a report in Al-Masry Al-Youm, Wafd Party is threatening to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections after allegations that Egyptian state television refused to air the opposition party’s advertising. The president of Wafd, Sayyed al-Badawi told Al-Masry Al-Youm that “the party may decide to boycott the poll if the state does not respond to the party’s demands and prove its impartiality.”
In other election news, 70 members of the Muslim Brotherhood were arrested for putting up campaign posters in Alexandria. The campaigners were working on behalf of Boushra al-Samni, the group’s parliamentary candidate for the female quota seat in the district.
Posted in Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Middle Eastern Media, Political Parties | Comment »
Egypt: More Television Stations Closed, Facebook Ban Possible
October 21st, 2010 by Evan
Al Jazeera reports that Egyptian authorities shut down 12 more private television channels on Tuesday for allegedly violating the terms of their broadcast licenses. Egyptian Information Minister Annas el-Fiqi said that the move by NileSat, Egypt’s main satellite operator, was a “corrective measure” necessary to protect viewers. Meanwhile on Egypt’s most popular talk show, Masr ElNaharda, commentators with close ties to the government suggested banning or passing laws to regulate Facebook. At The Guardian’s Comment is Free Osama Diab writes, “The suggestion of a ban on Facebook shows that the regime is worried of any medium that shows real trends and statistics in Egypt that they have no control over. It’s also because the regime is definitely losing the Facebook numbers game; it’s hard to imagine that Mokhtar [a commentator on Masr ElNaharda] would have still suggested control over the social network if it was President Hosni Mubarak who got a quarter of a million fans on his page rather than ElBaradei.”
Posted in Egypt, Elections, Journalism, Middle Eastern Media, Technology | Comment »
