Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ABUDHABI1171
2005-03-14 11:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE Information Minister Reviewing Press Law
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 12/06/2006 03:10:01 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLAS ABU DHABI 01171 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: POL INFO: DCM RSO AMB MEPI P/M PAO ECON DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM:RALBRIGHT DRAFTED: POL:JMAYBURY CLEARED: PA:DEDGINTON VZCZCADI538 RR RUEHC RUEHDE DE RUEHAD #1171 0731146 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141146Z MAR 05 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8700 INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4933
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001171
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/PPD AND NEA/ARPI
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KMPI OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: UAE Information Minister Reviewing Press Law
Ref: Abu Dhabi 158
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001171
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/PPD AND NEA/ARPI
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KMPI OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: UAE Information Minister Reviewing Press Law
Ref: Abu Dhabi 158
1. (U) UAE Information Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed
(AbZ) has called for an amendment to the existing Press and
Publication Law to protect press freedom and to prevent
harassment of journalists. The Ministry of Information and
the UAE Journalists Association are jointly submitting
suggestions for modifying the law, according to the March 10
"Gulf News". "The aim is to create a regulation capable of
protecting the freedom of the press and shielding
journalists from being prosecuted under the penal law,"
association chairman Mohammed Yousuf said.
2. (U) The issue surfaced a few days after the government
ordered two journalists from Arabic "Al Ittihad" to appear
in an Abu Dhabi court in a libel case brought against them
by a government official. Under the press law, journalists
could face imprisonment if convicted of libel, a penalty the
Journalists Association considers too harsh. Yousuf said
his association also wants to address the fact that
journalists can face legal action based on the penal code.
3. (SBU) Journalist contacts told Pol Chief that UAE
newsrooms like the fact that AbZ is promoting openness,
although journalists are careful not to offend ruling family
members. "I write what I want," said Mohammed Al Hammadi,
Arabic "Al Ittihad's" domestic affairs editor and the author
of a weekly column that raises controversial issues. "It is
OK to criticize up to a point," said Abdulraheem Al Bateeh,
an editor/anchor with Abu Dhabi TV.
4. (U) In January, AbZ called for a re-assessment of the
legal framework within which the Arab media operates (see
reftel),stating, "What is required is legislation that
guarantees free access to information." He cited the first
step in comprehensive media reform as the "emancipation" of
the media from laws confining it. The media should be able
to criticize the government and question its policies.
SISON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/PPD AND NEA/ARPI
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KMPI OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: UAE Information Minister Reviewing Press Law
Ref: Abu Dhabi 158
1. (U) UAE Information Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed
(AbZ) has called for an amendment to the existing Press and
Publication Law to protect press freedom and to prevent
harassment of journalists. The Ministry of Information and
the UAE Journalists Association are jointly submitting
suggestions for modifying the law, according to the March 10
"Gulf News". "The aim is to create a regulation capable of
protecting the freedom of the press and shielding
journalists from being prosecuted under the penal law,"
association chairman Mohammed Yousuf said.
2. (U) The issue surfaced a few days after the government
ordered two journalists from Arabic "Al Ittihad" to appear
in an Abu Dhabi court in a libel case brought against them
by a government official. Under the press law, journalists
could face imprisonment if convicted of libel, a penalty the
Journalists Association considers too harsh. Yousuf said
his association also wants to address the fact that
journalists can face legal action based on the penal code.
3. (SBU) Journalist contacts told Pol Chief that UAE
newsrooms like the fact that AbZ is promoting openness,
although journalists are careful not to offend ruling family
members. "I write what I want," said Mohammed Al Hammadi,
Arabic "Al Ittihad's" domestic affairs editor and the author
of a weekly column that raises controversial issues. "It is
OK to criticize up to a point," said Abdulraheem Al Bateeh,
an editor/anchor with Abu Dhabi TV.
4. (U) In January, AbZ called for a re-assessment of the
legal framework within which the Arab media operates (see
reftel),stating, "What is required is legislation that
guarantees free access to information." He cited the first
step in comprehensive media reform as the "emancipation" of
the media from laws confining it. The media should be able
to criticize the government and question its policies.
SISON