Media rights group hails acquittal of KT journalists

International media rights group, Reporters Without Borders, has welcomed a recent decision taken by Dubai Court of Appeal to overturn the convictions of two journalists from Khaleej Times.
It also called for the UAE Press law to grant more rights, especially to the electronic media.

The former editor of Khaleej Times, Prem Chandran, and reporter, Mohsen Rashed, were sentenced on September 24 to two months in prison each for libel.
The acquittal of the Khaleej Times journalists "confirms the positive evolution seen in the Press freedom situation in Dubai during the past two years," Reporters Without Borders said.
"However, the Press law still needs revision and we urge the government to include the decriminalisation of Press offences in the bill currently being considered. The reform, the first of its kind in the Gulf, should also apply to the electronic media," it said.
The acquittal of Khaleej Times journalists on November 8 came a few weeks after His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said journalists should not be imprisoned for work-related issues. Source

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UAE's decree ending jail threats to journalists a precedent: IJF

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Thursday welcomed a recent decree by the UAE that journalists should not be jailed for their work.
A statement by IFJ said the said decree "sets a precedent for the decriminalization of media law in the region." "We welcome this decision by the United Arab Emirates to end the criminalization of press offences and to support open and independent journalism", said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White.

"We hope that the UAE will serve as a model in the region and that other countries will follow suit with similar changes in their own laws." H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai recently decreed that no one should imprison any journalists because of his or her work, saying that there are procedures to be taken against any journalist committing an offense but jailing is not one of them.
"The UAE prime minister wants to see a new press law with amendments that drop jailing as a penalty for press offences enacted very quickly", said IFJ.
The IFJ expressed hopes that a change in the law in the United Arab Emirates will be the first of many in press laws in the Middle East.
"This is not just an important day for journalists in the UAE it is an important day for journalists throughout the region", White said. Source

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H.H. Sheikh Mohammed issues directions against detention of journalists

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, issued today a directive to the relevant authorities not to detain any journalist because of his journalistic work.
This was announced by sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of National Media Council (NMC), who stated that sheikh Mohammed had issued his directives to the relative organizations not to imprison any journalist because of journalistic task, emphasizing that there are other procedures to be taken in case of a certain violation by any journalist but imprisonment is not included.

He added that sheikh Mohammed had issued his directives to the cabinet to speed up its steps towards issuing press and publication law in the light of the amendments made by the NMC in collaboration with relevant organizations.
Concluding his statement, Sheikh Abdullah commended the imitative of Sheikh Mohammed which reflects his deep belief in press freedom and manifests his due care for journalists and means to provide them with the best working environment that enables them to carry out their mission efficiently. Source

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UAE Publications Law

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Media free to publish what it considers right

The print media in the UAE is free to publish what it considers is right, provided it doesn't interfere with the process of dispensation of justice, or violate people's rights or, in any way, harm the country's national interest and security, Dubai Police Commander-in-Chief Lt-Gen. Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, said yesterday.
Lt-Gen. Dhahi stated this at the symposium titled "Relations between Police and Media."
Addressing the audience consisting of media persons, security officials and people from the publishing industry, he endorsed the proposal regarding constant interaction between police spokespersons and media personnel with a view to accessing the latest news, information and follow-ups for coverage in the media.
He suggested the setting up of a dedicated website for dissemination of information to the press. The online service would be less time-consuming.
He pointed out that though Dubai Police has a Press liaison office which gives out information to the press and the media, many reporters insisted on contacting him personally or senior police officers to enquire about the latest developments regarding a crime incident or an accident.
While presenting several study papers, speakers at the symposium stressed the need for securing the flow of information regarding accidents and security-related issues.They also called for facilitating the assignments of reporters and photographers at the venue of accidents. Source

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