How Much Freedom Journalists Have? [Archives:2000/42/Focus]

By: Manal Al-Kindy
Freedom is an indispensable imperative sought by peoples of the world. It means the ability of people to be free in their political thought and economic life without being suppressed and oppressed.
Freedom of speech is a basic need for any advanced and democratic society. However, it should be practiced through the right means and be away from all kinds of terrorism, violence and harm to others. Ways of expressing freedom of speech and opinion vary from one society to another.
Our Islamic shareah ensures this essential right in the life of people. Prophet Mohammed urged his followers to discuss his opinions and reports. In addition, the Holy Quran contains many proofs of the necessity to respect others opinions and shun violence in enforcing ones opinion. As regards urging people to express their opinion even before rulers, Prophet Mohammed says in his Hadith the best jihad is a right word said to a tyrant ruler.
This can serve as an approach to my survey of the magnitude of freedom allowed in our country as expressed by the official or political newspapers. The survey shall also shed some light on censorship as a barrier preventing many books from seeing light of day.
Article 19 of the Yemeni constitution reads: Everybody has the right to uphold his own opinions. People have the right of freedom of expression. This includes freedom of looking for information, receiving it and transferring it to others. The second part of the above article contains some special limits which are:
– Respect for others rights
– Defending national security, order, morals, etc.
Editor in chief of Al-Sahwah newspaper Nabeel Assofi perceives freedom of expression as the freedom of information and facts. Any opinion which is not supported by facts turns newspapers to pieces of legends, he said. He added that tens of shiny and attractive articles were published daily but they lacked information which was compensated by imaginary information. There is no difference, in this regard among official or political newspapers, he said. However, he added, I shall not say that they always lack information, but it is often absent.
In 1998 the government decided to have spokesmen for its institutions. But so far there has been no intention to implement such a decision. Assofi criticized confining information with security offices despite the democratic development. Opinion is controlled by many limits and this should make us arrange our efforts to move to a better way of expression, he concluded.
Freedom of expression is likely to be absent in official newspapers because they are directed by specific organs. Others have better chance of varieties of opinions, said Saleh Al-Humaidi of Al-Shoura newspaper. This has been even asserted by vice editor-in-chief of Al-Raiah newspaper Nabeel Al-Asiadi who added that it was only the personal gains that might have motivated freedom of expression in such papers. However, he does not agree with him in regard to non-governmental newspapers which, he said, were not different.
Freedom of expression is also hindered by difficulty of having access to information and absence of respect for others opinion, said Assofi. Supporting this opinion, Al-Asiadi added the role censorship plays in creating more barriers to expression.
As far as remedies are concerned he emphasized respect for and belief in sacredness of words and freedom of expression.
Taher Al-Jonaied, head of investigation department for the Al-Meethaq newspaper, mouthpiece of the PGC, said the size of freedom of speech in official as well as opposition newspapers did not match aspiration of both the government and opposition. There is freedom but it is controlled by some legislation created to protect human rights and prevent any violations of others freedoms. he said.
Misunderstanding freedom of expression is a major problem, explained Al-Jonaid. Many writers offend people under the pretext of practicing this right, he said.
Aref Assormi from Sanaa Radio confessed to the availability of little freedom. But it is not enough to accept and encourage opposite partys opinion, he said.
Deputy chairman of YJS Hassan Abdulwarith highlighted available fringe of freedom from two angles:, constitutional laws and what is really implemented. Constitutional laws provide a good volume of freedom of expression, he said. But this freedom is sometimes controlled by the different interpretations of such laws by authorities concerned, he added. Although we are better than others in the Arab countries in this regard, the freedom we have is not enough.
He added that unless freedom of expression was given a larger outlet many difficulties would be awaiting both the state and the society. Freedom of expression helps rulers see centers of corruption in the society, he said.

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