Arab League adopts strict rules for satellite TV stations
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Publication Date | 13 February 2008 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, Arab League adopts strict rules for satellite TV stations, 13 February 2008, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/47b997f01c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Reporters Without Borders condemns an agreement imposing draconian regulations on satellite TV content that was adopted yesterday in Cairo by the information ministers of 21 of the Arab League's 22 member states. It authorises governments to punish offenders.
"These regulations are not only repressive but also retrograde," the press freedom organisation said. "Instead of working to relax the often very rigid press laws in force in their countries, the Arab League information ministers have banded together to put pressure on news media that have been annoying them and escaping their control.
"Since their emergence in the region, satellite TV stations have revolutionised the news media in the Arab world. Unlike the national TV stations that have to censor themselves, stations such as Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya are forums for free speech in which the peoples of the Arab world can hear their grievances expressed."
Reporters Without Borders added: "It is not surprising that this agreement was promoted by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, two countries in which the satellite TV stations have encountered difficulties in recent years. We call on the Arab League's secretary-general, Amr Moussa, to intercede with its member states and convince them to rescind it."
Qatar, where Al-Jazeera has its headquarters, was the only Arab League member to vote against the agreement, which aims to "regulate the operations of satellite TV stations." It authorises signatory countries to "withdraw, freeze or not renew the work permits of media which break the regulations." Using very vague language, it also stipulates that the satellite TV stations "should not damage social harmony, national unity, public order or traditional values."